Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) a black woman.

[1904		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 13 Apr. 6/3: [of a black man] The elongated stick of licorice was esquired by Joe Thomal [...] The black sweated like a horse].
2006		G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 233: I’m just a man who likes his licorice.
2012		Pelecanos (con. 1972) What It Was 9: The whores, retailing their licorice on what was left of the 14th Street stroll.

2. see liquorice stick n. (2)