Black-colored　ZnO　nanowires　have　been　prepared　in　a　metal-organic　chemical　vapor　deposition　system　by　employing　a　relatively　low　growth　temperature　and　oxygen-deficient　conditions.　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　reveals　the　incorporation　of　carbon　into　the　nanowires.　The　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution　activity　of　the　black-colored　ZnO　nanowires　is　over　2.5　times　larger　than　that　of　the　pristine　ZnO　nanowires　under　simulated　solar　illumination　conditions,　and　the　enhanced　photocatalytic　activity　can　be　attributed　to　the　higher　absorption　of　visible　light　by　the　black　color　and　better　carrier　separation　at　the　ZnO/carbon　interface.