The FBI, or Federal Bureau of Investigation, has played a complex and often controversial role in Black history. One of the most notable periods of the FBI's involvement in Black history occurred during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The FBI, under the leadership of Director J. Edgar Hoover, conducted extensive surveillance and intelligence-gathering on civil rights activists, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other prominent leaders of the movement.

Hoover's FBI notoriously targeted Black activists, organizations, and community leaders through the use of COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program), a covert program aimed at disrupting and discrediting political dissidents. This included tactics such as wiretapping, infiltration, and false propaganda intended to undermine the civil rights movement.

Despite these troubling actions, there were also instances where the FBI played a positive role in Black history. For example, the FBI investigated and prosecuted individuals responsible for racially-motivated violence, such as the murders of civil rights activists like Medgar Evers and Viola Liuzzo.

Today, the FBI continues to have a presence in Black communities, focusing on issues such as hate crimes, domestic terrorism, and civil rights violations. The agency's history in Black communities remains fraught with both positive and negative actions, reflecting the complexities of its role in shaping Black history.