Zephyr Wright

Many of her recipes live on, including her "Pedernales River chili", published in the book Eating With Uncle Sam (2011; National Archives Foundation); and "Shrimp Curry A La Zephyr Wright", published by NPR (2008). In 2016, the Kitchen Sisters podcast on National Public Radio featured Wright in episode 44. Wright was named by The New York Times in 2019 as one of the "6 Black Chefs Who Changed the History of Food".

Zephyr Wright (née Zephyr Black; 1915 – April 25, 1988) was an African-American civil rights activist and personal chef for President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from 1942 until 1969. Wright was an influence of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because she had communicated her experiences living under Jim Crow laws to Johnson, which were later shared by Johnson with other influential lawmakers.

She was married to Sammy Wright, a chauffeur for President Johnson and his family, who preceded her in death in 1969. Wright died of a heart condition on April 25, 1988, in Washington, D.C.

Wright accompanied Mrs. Johnson and another newly hired staff member, John Hickey, on their drive to Washington, D.C. The three had difficulty finding restaurants and hotels throughout the trip since segregated establishments often refused to serve Wright and Hickey. Wright said about the journey in a 1974 interview that she was often asked to enter restaurants through the kitchen or eat outside, but always refused, stating: "I felt that if I wasn't wanted, I wouldn't go. I felt happier not going."

Wright and Johnson maintained a friendly relationship and often conversed in a casual manner. Wright named several instances in which she and Johnson traded lighthearted words and poked fun at each other's sleep schedules. Wright was outspokenly supportive of Johnson's work on civil rights, stating that: "In talking with him I know he is for all of the Negro people, and he has done more for them than anyone else." Her time with the Johnsons concluded in 1969, at the end of Lyndon's presidential term.

After retiring from service in 1969, Wright continued to live in Washington, D.C. She would receive fan mail for her work in the White House. In December 1963, Lady Bird Johnson said in an interview with Time magazine: "Zephyr is an expert at spoon bread, homemade ice cream and monumental Sunday breakfasts of deer sausage, home-cured bacon, popovers, grits, scrambled eggs, homemade peach preserves and coffee." Unfortunately, during her lifetime, Zephyr was not well credited for her impactful civil rights work and her contributions to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as she was for her cooking.

President Johnson often asked Wright's opinion of his legislative actions and appointments. Wright recalled one instance in 1967:

She had been briefly replaced in her role cooking for the Johnson family by French-born White House Executive Chef René Verdon, who had also served the Kennedy family; however, by 1965 Johnson had disagreements with chef Verdon on creative differences and cost. Wright returned to cooking specifically for the Johnson family, and the role of White House Executive Chef was given to Henry Haller. Around 1966, Wright taught Luci Baines Johnson how to cook.

When Johnson became Vice President of the United States, he sought Wright's opinion on matters such as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Wright's experiences with Jim Crow laws were used in conversations to build Congressional support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She was later a witness to his signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and at the signing ceremony, he gave her the pen he had used to sign the act, saying: "You deserve this more than anyone else."

In September 1942, after receiving a recommendation from Wiley College president Dr. Matthew Dogan, Lady Bird Johnson hired Wright as a cook for herself and then-representative Lyndon Johnson.