Yap.Town

黒人だった

was Black

→ 黒人
phrase Rare #24,361
was Black 黒人 means “Black person,” and だった is the past form of だ, meaning “was.” The term 黒人 is commonly used in Japanese but can sound blunt depending on context; 黒人の人 or 黒人の方 may be used more politely.
JA: 彼は若い頃、黒人だった。
EN: He was Black when he was young.

地球上に現れた最初の人類は黒人だった白い肌の人間は一人もいなかった

The first humans to appear on Earth were Black; there wasn’t a single white person among them.

— マルコムＸ (1992)

私の母の父は半分黒人だった

My mother’s father was half Black.

— 罪人たち (2025)

アメリカが生まれる前に黒人だった

I was Black before America was born.

— マルコムＸ (1992)