Zephyr (Black) Wright (abt. 1915 - 1988)

Born about Sep 1915 in Marshall, Harrison, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Died 25 Apr 1988 at about age 72 in Washington D.C., United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: US Black Heritage Project WikiTree [send private message]

Zephyr (Black) Wright is a part of US Black history. Join: US Black Heritage Project Discuss: black_heritage

Biography

Zephyr (Black) Wright is Notable.

Zephyr (Black) Wright was an African-American civil rights activist and personal chef for President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from 1942 until 1969.^[1]

Zephyr was born about 1915. She passed away in 1988.

From Find A Grave: "Personal chef Zephyr Wright worked for President Lyndon B. Johnson and his family for nearly 27 years. White House Chief Usher J.B. West referred to her as “the queen of the kitchen on the second floor” and one reporter remarked that she knew the first family’s tastes so well “that she rarely even asked Mrs. Johnson what to cook.” The First Lady herself once wrote that, “I have yet to find a great chef whose desserts I like as well as Zephyr’s.”

Wright also played a part in President Johnson’s efforts to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Many have credited her perspective as influential on President Johnson’s commitment to ensuring that a public accommodations section preventing segregation was included in the legislation. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson once asked Zephyr to take one of the Johnson family dogs back to Texas. Wright declined to do so, explaining that it was hard enough for traveling African Americans to find places to eat and sleep, let alone one that would also accommodate pets. President Johnson often cited her experiences as evidence for the public accommodations section when promoting the Bill among members of Congress."

Research Notes

Annie (McKenzie) Rivers (1898-) is the head of household in the 1940 census cited. Zephyr is called her neice.

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zephyr_Wright

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHBR-XF2 : accessed 13 January 2023), Annie McKenzie in household of T L McKenzie, Harrison, Texas, United States; citing , sheet , line , family , NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll ; FHL microfilm .
• 1940 United States Federal Census Place: Marshall, Harrison, Texas; Roll: m-t0627-04057; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 102-6: "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWKT-JT2 : 29 July 2019), Zepha Black in household of Annie Rivers, Ward 1, Marshall, Justice Precinct 3, Harrison, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 102-6, sheet 11A, line 37, family 253, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4057.
• 1950 United States Federal Census Home in 1950: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: 3073; Sheet Number: 8; Enumeration District: 1-583

• Find A Grave: Memorial #222373664