Background: In 1941, the United States was in full-swing war mode, with defense spending and production increasing exponentially. As African-American workers migrated to the North and East for employment in defense factories, they were met with violence and discrimination. Black leaders - including A. Philip Randolph and Baynard Rustin - met with the President's cabinet and discussed the possibility of an executive order with the President. After consulting his advisors, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802.

The EO and its Achievements: The Executive Order outlawed discrimination based on "race, creed, color, or national origin" (but not gender) in both the government and its defense industries. This Executive Order was the first to EO on race since the Reconstruction period. It also created the Committee on Fair Employment Practice (FEPC) to "investigate complaints of discrimination in violation of the provisions of this order and shall take appropriate steps to redress grievances which it finds to be valid." The EO was the first of its kind, opening doors to fairer employment practices for the good of the people and the country. The EO symoblized more than it actually accomplished, and fell short in the fact that the FEPC had little enforcement power. The powers of this EO were expanded to all government contractors with EO 9346, also signed by Roosevelt.