The FBI has played a complex and at times controversial role in Black history. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the FBI under Director J. Edgar Hoover surveilled and targeted many Black civil rights leaders and organizations, including Martin Luther King Jr. and the NAACP, under the guise of fighting communism and maintaining national security.

One of the most infamous examples of the FBI's targeting of Black activists was its Counterintelligence Program (COINTELPRO), which aimed to disrupt and discredit dissenting political organizations, including those led by Black leaders. This covert program involved tactics such as surveillance, infiltration, and disinformation campaigns.

However, it is also worth noting that some FBI agents worked to protect and support the civil rights movement. For example, agents monitored and provided protection for Freedom Riders and voter registration efforts in the South.

In more recent years, the FBI has acknowledged and apologized for its past actions in targeting Black activists and groups during the Civil Rights Movement. The agency has also worked to rebuild trust with Black communities and address issues of racial bias within its ranks.

Overall, the history of the FBI in relation to Black history is a complex one, with both positive and negative aspects.