President Franklin D. Roosevelt played a significant role in Black history during his time in office from 1933 to 1945. While his presidency is often remembered for his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II, Roosevelt's policies also had a lasting impact on African Americans.

One key aspect of Roosevelt's legacy in Black history is his support for civil rights. Despite facing political pressure from Southern Democrats, Roosevelt took steps to challenge racial discrimination and segregation. In 1937, he appointed the first Black federal judge, William H. Hastie, and later established the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC) in 1941 to combat discrimination in the defense industry.

Roosevelt also signed a number of executive orders aimed at promoting equality and opportunities for African Americans. Executive Order 8802 in 1941 banned racial discrimination in the defense industry, while Executive Order 9066 in 1942 prohibited discrimination in the federal government and paved the way for desegregation.

Additionally, Roosevelt's New Deal programs provided economic relief to many African Americans who were disproportionately impacted by the Great Depression. Programs such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created job opportunities for Black workers and helped alleviate poverty in Black communities.

Overall, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's efforts to advance civil rights and economic opportunities for African Americans marked an important chapter in Black history and set the stage for the civil rights movement that would follow in the decades after his presidency.