diff --git a/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css b/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css
--- a/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css
+++ b/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
   color: var(--fg);
   font-weight: var(--semi-bold);
 }
-div.lastMessage.black {
+div.lastMessage.white {
   color: var(--fg);
 }
 div.dark {
diff --git a/web/chat/message-preview.react.js b/web/chat/message-preview.react.js
--- a/web/chat/message-preview.react.js
+++ b/web/chat/message-preview.react.js
@@ -48,10 +48,10 @@
     ) {
       const userString = stringForUser(messageInfo.creator);
       const username = `${userString}: `;
-      const usernameStyle = unread ? css.black : css.light;
+      const usernameStyle = unread ? css.white : css.light;
       usernameText = <span className={usernameStyle}>{username}</span>;
     }
-    const colorStyle = unread ? css.black : css.dark;
+    const colorStyle = unread ? css.white : css.dark;
     return (
       <div className={classNames(css.lastMessage, colorStyle)}>
         {usernameText}