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Claude Black (minister)

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Dr. Claude W. Black Jr.

Rev Claude William Black Jr. (born November 28, 1916) is a Baptist minister and political figure. He was born the son of local Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters vice president Claude Sr. and housewife Cora in the then-segregated city of San Antonio, Texas.

Biography

Ministry

While attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, Black initially aspired to be a doctor, but was led to the ministry. He then followed at Andover Newton Theological School.

Rev. Black served as pastor of Mt Zion First Baptist Church in San Antonio for 1949-1998 and as pastor emeritus since. Previously, he had served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Haverhill, Massachusetts and St. Matthew Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Rev. Black has founded several community groups as well as the city’s first black credit union. He also served as chairmen of the Social Actions Committee with the National Baptist Convention and president of the Baptist Minister's Union of San Antonio.

Civil rights activitism

Rev Black was known throughout the South for his civil rights activism. Throughout the late 1950’s and 1960’s, he along with State Representative G J Sutton were leading and organizing marches throughout the state. He challenged former Texas Governor Price Daniel, former San Antonio Mayor Walter McAllister and the establishment for their unfair treatment of minorities in the city. He became an associate of such leaders as A. Philip Randolph, Martin Luther King, Thurgood Marshall, Adam Clayton Powell Jr and others. He endured many threats to himself, his family and even his church. A drive-by shooting occured on his home as well as his church was burned in 1974 with no suspects ever being charged.

He served four terms of the San Antonio City Council 1973-1978 and became the city’s First Black Mayor Pro Tem.

Legacy

Rev Black was married to ZerNona Black (1912-2005) for a total of 59 years. He has experienced the death of both children Stewart (?-1994) and Joyce (1952-1992) and three grandchildren.

San Antonio has a street, shopping plaza, and community center named in honor of Rev. Claude Black. The city of San Antonio has created the Rev. Claude & ZerNona Black Scholarship Endowment Fund.

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