Our Arklahoma Heritage: Muskogee-born ZerNona Stewart Black taught and fought for civil rights for over seven decades

ZerNona Stewart Black:

In the bustling frontier town of Muskogee, then a hub of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and a melting pot of African American entrepreneurship, ZerNona Stewart entered the world on February 7, 1906.

Her life, marked by early loss and unyielding sorrow, would span nearly a century, weaving through the threads of education, civil rights, and community service. Though she later made her mark in San Antonio, Texas, ZerNona's roots in Muskogee shaped her into a formidable force: an educator who empowered generations, an activist who marched for justice, and a matriarch whose legacy endures in scholarships, centers, and the hearts of those she touched.

ZerNona's childhood was forged in hardship. Born to James Stewart, a savvy businessman who ran an outdoor "colored" movie theater and tailor shops across Oklahoma and New York City, and Juanita Wooten Stewart, her world shattered early when her mother died suddenly just months after her birth.

Raised amid the entrepreneurial spirit of her father, ZerNona learned the value of self-reliance in a segregated America. Muskogee, with its vibrant Black community and proximity to Native American lands, instilled in her a sense of cultural divesity that would influence her lifelong advocacy.

She excelled in Muskogee's public schools, graduating with a determination to pursue higher education, a rare path for Black women in the early 20th century. ZerNona ventured east to Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, earning a bachelor's degree in speech and education.

Her thirst for knowledge didn't stop there; she pursued graduate studies at prestigious institutions like the University of Colorado, Indiana University, Our Lady of the Lake University, and Trinity University. These academic pursuits equipped her with tools that would define her career: communication, drama, and leadership.

ZerNona's professional journey began in the classrooms of Oklahoma, where she taught subjects ranging from speech and radio to physical education. At Langston University, a historically Black college in Langston, Oklahoma, she headed the drama department, nurturing young talents and fostering expression in an era when Black voices were often silenced.

Her innovative teaching methods emphasized leadership development, preparing students not just for careers but for civic engagement.

The winds of World War II carried her southward. In 1943, she accepted a three-month assignment from the YWCA to direct a USO club in San Antonio, Texas, specifically for Black military personnel. What started as a temporary role became a cornerstone of her life. Amid the segregation of the Jim Crow South, ZerNona created a haven for African American service members and their families, organizing events, counseling sessions, and morale-boosting activities.

Her work extended beyond entertainment; it was a subtle act of resistance, affirming the dignity of Black soldiers in a nation that often denied it

.Later, she joined the faculty at St. Philip's College in San Antonio, continuing her educational mission. ZerNona's classrooms were more than lecture halls, they were incubators for empowerment, where she blended drama and speech to build confidence and critical thinking.

Hand in Hand with the Civil Rights MovementZerNona's activism blossomed in the 1950s and 1960s, intertwined with that of her husband, Rev. Claude William Black Jr., a towering figure in San Antonio's civil rights scene and pastor of Mount Zion First Baptist Church.

Married on February 10, 1946, the couple formed a dynamic partnership: Claude led from the pulpit and the streets, while ZerNona provided steadfast support, organizing behind the scenes and participating in marches and protests. Together, they fought for the integration of lunch counters, schools, and public spaces, challenging the entrenched racism of Texas.

Her contributions extended to community welfare. ZerNona founded senior citizen daycare centers, including Health Incorporated, which gained national recognition for its innovative approach to elder care. These initiatives addressed the practical needs of Black families, complementing the broader civil rights struggle by ensuring vulnerable community members weren't left behind.

As one exhibit on her life notes, "ZerNona's focus on Black families within the San Antonio community complemented her husband's civil rights work by ensuring all members of their community were supported."

Though not as publicly vocal as some activists, ZerNona's role was pivotal. She bridged education and activism, using her skills to organize church-based efforts and support statewide marches. Her work echoed the quiet strength of figures like Rosa Parks as an activist whosec ations that spoke louder than words.

ZerNona and Claude built a family that reflected their values: two children, six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, plus Claude's stepson from a previous relationship. Their home was a sanctuary of faith and activism, where discussions of justice mingled with daily life.

ZerNona's move from Muskogee to San Antonio marked a personal evolution, but she never forgot her Oklahoma roots, often drawing on them in her teaching and organizing.

She passed away peacefully on January 24, 2005, in San Antonio, just shy of their 59th wedding anniversary. Interred at Meadowlawn Memorial Park, her death marked the end of an era, but not her influence.

ZerNona's legacy lives on through institutions that bear her name and spirit. The Rev. Claude and ZerNona Black Scholarship Endowment Fund supports aspiring leaders in San Antonio, while the ZerNona S. Black Multigenerational Community Center, opened on the city's East Side, honors her commitment to education and service.

As a television report from 2025 highlighted, "Black was known for being an educator and activist, but she also had a heart for service and assisting members of the community.

"Her story is preserved in the Claude and ZerNona Black Papers (1890–2009) at Trinity University, a trove of documents chronicling their activism, ministry, and family life.

Exhibits like those curated by Trinity students in 2018 bring her contributions to light, ensuring future generations understand her role in bridging civil rights and community welfare.In an age of overt heroes, ZerNona Stewart Black reminds us of the power of quiet persistence.

From Muskogee's entrepreneurial streets to San Antonio's protest lines, she educated, organized, and uplifted, proving that true change often starts in the classroom and the home. As one tribute aptly put it, she was "at the center of the Black family," and indeed, at the heart of a movement.