After the Civil War ended, those African Americans who could vote overwhelmingly supported the Republican Party. Democrats were (rightly) seen as the party that had enforced slavery, discrimination, bigotry, and Jim Crow laws. After Reconstruction ended, neither party did much to help African Americans. While the Republicans would spread money around at election time to try and win the votes of Northern African Americans, by and large, neither of the major political parties cared about Civil Rights. Nonetheless, a few brilliant and influential African American government employees gathered together during Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency to try and nudge the Federal government towards ensuring fairer treatment for Black citizens. This group evolved into FDR’s Black Cabinet.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH PART OF MY INTERVIEW WITH DR. JILL WATTS, AUTHOR OF “THE BLACK CABINET”
The New Deal sought to help “the Forgotten Man” during the Great Depression. However, 
FDR paid scant attention to the plight of African Americans. The champion of the “Forgotten Man” wanted to forget about non-white people suffering through the Depression. It simply was not on his radar.
President Roosevelt surrounded himself with conservative Southern advisors. One key aide, bulldog Press Secretary Stephen Early, a descendent of Confederate General Jubal Early, did everything in his considerable power to keep African Americans from speaking directly from the diffident FDR. And the evidence seems to bear out that Franklin Roosevelt was more than happy not to have to think about racism, voter suppression, the segregation of the military, or other issues plaguing Black Americans.
Enter Mary Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt
FDR’s Isolation from Civil Rights came to an end due to the influence of two extraordinary women. The warm friendship between Mary Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt (literally) opened the Oval Office door to a brilliant Black educator and Civil Rights advocate. FDR came to admire Mrs. Bethune and listened to her concerns with genuine interest.
FDR’s Black Cabinet
FDR never formally acknowledged the Black Cabinet, nor did he meet with them. 
Nonetheless, they had a strong, if subtle, influence on his administration. Led by the amazing Mary McLeod Bethune, the brilliant young men like Robert Weaver (later the first African American Cabinet member, under LBJ, Al Smith, Robert Vann, and others made slow, steady, and seemingly minor changes in the New Deal to the benefit of African Americans. Perhaps, their most significant victory was pushing FDR to open the Army and the defense industries to offer more opportunities for Black Americans. Although they failed to get FDR to desegregate the military, the Black Cabinet made great strides in other areas. From helping to desegregate parts of the Federal government to diverting New Deal funds to help African Americans more fairly, their story is little known but so important.!
CLICK HERE TO WATCH PART OF MY INTERVIEW WITH DR. JILL WATTS, AUTHOR OF “THE BLACK CABINET”
Thanks for the story and interview with Dr. Watt. It was very educational.
Dr. Watts is an amazing historian. It was a real treat for me to be able to interview her! I had to edit for length, which was a shame, because there was so much more that came out in the interview that was fascinating!
Great article and interview-I learned a lot of information that I hadn’t known about previously.
Sherry –
I learned so much from the book! And the author’s other books, especially the biography of Hattie MacDaniel, are just great!
BB
Very interesting article. Didn’t know about this side of FDR.
Elliot –
FDR did so much good. But he was a complex and often contradictory man who has a poor record on race relations, especially when you factor in the Internment Camps.
BB
Thanks again, Barry, for broadening my ken.
Thanks Barry for a chance to talk with you and for your efforts to make sure that the members of the Black Cabinet are not forgotten. Thanks to your followers for their support as well. Jill