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
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@
   color: var(--fg);
 }
 
+div.activeThread .lastMessage.light {
+  color: var(--fg);
+}
+
 div.activeThread.thread:hover {
   background: var(--thread-active-bg);
 }
@@ -109,7 +113,7 @@
   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.light;
     return (
       <div className={classNames(css.lastMessage, colorStyle)}>
         {usernameText}
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
       </div>
     );
   } else {
-    const colorStyle = unread ? css.black : css.light;
+    const colorStyle = unread ? css.white : css.light;
     return (
       <div className={classNames([css.lastMessage, colorStyle])}>
         {messageTitle}