Used to be that chromed spokes and early stainless spokes were more fragile than galvanised, but then they developed better stainless alloys and that problem went away (unless you're a diehard vintage person I guess). Possibly the black painted spokes on cheap bikes led to a low opinion of black spokes generally, but better quality black spokes are usually treated with an electro-deposition process that is more durable than a simple coating, and doesn't affect the strength. A spoke arrangement I like is to put a coloured spoke on both sides of the valve hole.