The War on Poverty was a set of government initiatives aimed at eliminating poverty in the United States, particularly through the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. This act was a key component of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society agenda, which sought to address social and economic inequality.

During this time, African Americans disproportionately faced high levels of poverty due to systemic racism and discrimination. Programs created under the War on Poverty, such as Head Start and Job Corps, aimed to provide educational opportunities, job training, and social services to help lift individuals and families out of poverty.

While the War on Poverty had some success in reducing poverty rates overall, its impact on the Black community was limited by ongoing racial disparities in access to resources and opportunities. Many Black activists and community leaders criticized the programs for not adequately addressing the root causes of poverty, such as systemic racism and economic inequality.

Despite these criticisms, the War on Poverty marked an important milestone in the fight for social and economic justice for African Americans, and it laid the foundation for future anti-poverty initiatives and advocacy efforts.