The National Youth Administration (NYA) was a New Deal agency created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The NYA aimed to provide work and education for American youth aged 16 to 25 who were struggling to find employment during the Great Depression.

In terms of Black history, the NYA was significant because it provided opportunities for African American youth to gain job skills and access to education that had previously been denied to them due to racial discrimination and segregation. The NYA operated integrated facilities and programs, which was a rarity during this time of deep racial division in the United States.

African American youth were able to benefit from NYA programs such as vocational training, job placement services, and educational opportunities. This helped to equip them with the skills and resources needed to improve their future prospects and break the cycle of poverty that had ensnared many Black communities.

Overall, the National Youth Administration played a crucial role in advancing educational and employment opportunities for African American youth during a time of economic hardship and racial inequality in America.