We have studied the effect of black matrix (BM) according to the dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystals (LCs) for a homogeneously aligned LC cell driven by fringe-electric field. The results show that for a LC with positive dielectric anisotropy (+LC) there is a large transmittance change when using a conductive BM, whereas the transmittance change is low for a LC with negative dielectric anisotropy (-LC). The conductive BM existing on top substrate produces vertical electric field, which makes the LC molecules be tilt upward from the substrate and have small twist angle for the +LC. However, for the -LC the conductive BM affects the LC distribution only slightly due to characteristic of the -LC orienting perpendicular to the field. Therefore, for the +LC the electro-optic characteristics are strongly dependent on conductivity of the BM on top substrate in a homogeneous liquid crystal cell driven by fringe-electric field.