During most of America's history, African Americans were the poorest of the poor and the first ones to feel the effects of hard times. They were given the worst jobs, the least amount of pay, and they were the first to be fired after the stock market crash. This pattern of American behavior held true during the depression of the 1930s.

Entities designed to help those in need during this time, such as AAA and the Social Security Act, often provided little or no help for African Americans. AAA, for example, provided money for rural landowners, but only twenty percent of African Americans in the South during this time were landowners. This organization, for the most part, did nothing to improve conditions for minorities. Additionally, most government agencies refused to hire African Americans while giving jobs during the depression. Those that did give them jobs, such as the Armed Forces, kept blacks and whites segregated.

In addition to such injustice, blacks suffered social persecution as well. During the depression, the number of lynchings and other racial mob assaults increased dramatically. Organizations such as the KKK burned African-American homes and murdered or assaulted men, women, and children ritualistically. African Americans were forced to endure such treatment, however, because they had no way to protect themselves. Town authorities often took part in such occurrences as well. In 1934, Roosevelt proposed an anti-lynching bill that held local sheriffs responsible for frequent lynchings in their towns. This bill was never given priority, however, and died in the Senate four years later. African Americans either succumbed to these racist acts, or lost their lives; and, often they did both.

One of the main reasons that African Americans received such treatment had to do with the fact that they had no voice in government. This was the result that, although the majority of African Americans still abided in the South during this era, they were unable to exercise their rights because of prejudice. Their congressmen consistently ignored their rights and issues that impaired their liberty. Roosevelt did not intervene since he was afraid of losing southern, white support. He gave into their resistance to equality. In addition, he offered no civil rights program and did little to challenge the issue of segregation. He tolerated discrimination in the workplace.

President Roosevelt, to his credit, did appoint more African Americans to government posts than any other president preceding him. For example, he appointed Mary McLeod Bethune to be Director of the Negro Affairs Division of the National Youth Administration. Subsequently, she was a close personal friend of the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. President Roosevelt did attempt to ameliorate conditions for African Americans, but in this era of depression and hardship, his attempts were futile.