Black co-authored a city council resolution against the sale of the South African Krugerrand Gold Coin, in December 1976, before Nelson Mandela was released from prison. He served four terms of the San Antonio City Council, 1973–78, and became the city's first black Mayor Pro Tem. Black was married to ZerNona Black (1912–2005) for a total of 59 years. He was predeceased by his adopted daughter Joyce (1952–1992), son Stewart (1931–1994) and three grandchildren. San Antonio has a street, shopping plaza, and community center named in honor of Black. The city of San Antonio created the Rev. Claude and ZerNona Black Scholarship Endowment Fund. Black also served on the Advisory Council of Wayland Baptist University's San Antonio campus; the campus named its award given to the outstanding student earning the Master of Christian Ministry degree in his honor. On November 30, 2006, Black was honored with an extravagant 90th Birthday gala, which was hosted by both the city of San Antonio. Guest included Martin Luther King III, Fred Shuttlesworth, Henry Cisneros, Percy Sutton and Phil Hardberger. Black's autobiography "Grandpa was a Preacher: A Letter to my Grandson" was published in 2006. It was co-written with his grandson Taj Matthews. The MLK Realizing the Dream Foundation honored Rev. Black in Washington during Inauguration Week along with Congressman Ted Kennedy, Congressman John Lewis (Georgia) and Activist, Humanitarian Aung San Suu Kyi. Black was present at some of Dr. King's civil rights speeches, including his famous I Have a Dream speech. Black died on March 13, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas, following a lengthy illness.