Franklin D. Roosevelt played a significant role in Black history as the President of the United States during a critical time for civil rights and racial equality. While Roosevelt's New Deal programs helped to lift the nation out of the Great Depression, his administration's policies were often criticized for not doing enough to address racial discrimination and inequality.

One of the most notable aspects of Roosevelt's legacy in Black history is his creation of the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC) in 1941. The FEPC was established to combat racial discrimination in the defense industry during World War II and promote equal employment opportunities for African Americans. This marked an important step towards desegregating the workforce and advancing civil rights in the United States.

Roosevelt also faced pressure from civil rights leaders, such as A. Philip Randolph, to address racial injustice more directly. In response to this pressure, Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802 in 1941, which prohibited discrimination in the defense industry based on race, color, religion, or national origin. This order was a significant victory for the civil rights movement and laid the groundwork for later efforts to combat segregation and discrimination in American society.

Despite these actions, Roosevelt's record on race relations remains mixed, as his administration did not fully address systemic racism or achieve full equality for African Americans during his time in office. However, his efforts to promote fair employment practices and address racial discrimination had a lasting impact on the struggle for civil rights in the United States.