The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has played a complex and often controversial role in Black history. Throughout much of the 20th century, the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover targeted and surveilled civil rights leaders and organizations, including Martin Luther King Jr. and the NAACP, under the guise of combating subversion and communism. The FBI's COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) operations sought to disrupt and dismantle Black liberation movements and organizations, leading to the spread of disinformation, surveillance, and harassment of Black activists.

However, there were also instances where the FBI supported the Civil Rights Movement, such as by investigating the murders of civil rights activists like Medgar Evers and providing protection for Freedom Riders. One notable case is the FBI's investigation into the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, in Mississippi by the Ku Klux Klan.

In more recent times, the FBI has been criticized for its focus on "Black Identity Extremists" and the surveillance of Black Lives Matter activists. This has raised concerns about the agency's continued targeting of Black activists and organizations under the guise of fighting domestic terrorism.

Overall, the history of the FBI in relation to Black Americans is complex, marked by both oppressive actions and occasional support for civil rights causes. It underscores the importance of understanding the role of law enforcement agencies in shaping Black history and the ongoing struggles for racial justice.