Red oak is reasonably priced and easy to work with sharp tools. Most home improvement centers have red oak planking in stock. If you are going with a pure, opaque black color, I would use a quality, cabinet grade plywood for building the stand rather than spending the extra money on red oak or other hard wood. I would just paint the stand with whatever color you desire with an exterior gloss finish. It's hard to say whether an oil-based or latex would be best. Oil based paints tend to 'yellow' with age and exposure to UV over time. If you want the grain to show through somewhat, you can use an aniline dye and really apply it heavy with a light wiping between coats. Afterwards, I would use a good water based sealer to protect the wood against any spills. Aniline dye will raise the grain after application so you would need to sand between coats. Red oak accepts stain quite readily and would be very durable.
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