In 1941, labor leader A. Philip Randolph pressured President Franklin D. Roosevelt to desegregate the defense industry by threatening a massive march on Washington. This resulted in Executive Order 8802, the first federal action in the United States to prohibit racial discrimination in the defense industry and government.
TLDR: Facing a threatened 100,000-person march on Washington in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802. This landmark directive established the Fair Employment Practice Committee, marking the first significant federal intervention against racial discrimination in the United States workforce since Reconstruction.
In the early summer of 1941, the United States found itself in a precarious position. While the nation had not yet formally entered World War II, the “Arsenal of Democracy” was operating at full capacity to supply Allied forces. Factories in the North and West were hiring thousands of workers to build aircraft, tanks, and naval vessels. However, the economic recovery brought by the defense boom was not shared equally. African American workers remained largely excluded from these high-paying industrial jobs, often relegated to janitorial roles or denied employment entirely. The military, too, remained strictly segregated, with Black soldiers serving in labor units rather than combat roles.
This systemic exclusion prompted A. Philip Randolph, president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, to initiate the March on Washington Movement. Randolph, alongside strategist Bayard Rustin and NAACP leader Walter White, proposed a massive demonstration of 100,000 people to descend upon the capital. Their demands were clear: an end to segregation in the armed forces and a federal mandate prohibiting racial discrimination in defense contracts. The Black press, including influential papers like the Chicago Defender, played a crucial role in amplifying Randolph’s call to action. They framed the struggle as a campaign for victory over fascism abroad and victory over racism at home.
The prospect of a large-scale protest in Washington, D.C., deeply concerned the Roosevelt administration. President Franklin D. Roosevelt feared that such a demonstration would embarrass the United States internationally and potentially incite domestic unrest during a period of national mobilization. Initial attempts by the administration to dissuade Randolph failed. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia met with the organizers, but Randolph refused to cancel the march without concrete policy changes. On June 18, 1941, Roosevelt finally met with Randolph and White in the Oval Office. During this tense negotiation, Randolph remained firm, insisting that only an executive order could address the grievances of Black workers.
Faced with the looming deadline of the July 1 march, Roosevelt relented. On June 25, 1941, he signed Executive Order 8802. The order declared that there shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color, or national origin. To ensure compliance, the order established the Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC) within the Office of Production Management. In response to this victory, Randolph officially called off the march, though the organizational structure of the movement remained intact.
The FEPC was the first federal agency since the Reconstruction era dedicated to protecting the civil rights of Black Americans. It held public hearings across the country, exposing the depth of systemic bias in the labor market. These hearings were often the first time that corporate executives were forced to answer for their hiring practices in a public forum. While the committee lacked the power to cancel contracts or bring criminal charges, its ability to publicize discriminatory practices forced many companies to open their doors to minority workers. By the end of the war, the percentage of Black workers in the defense industry had risen significantly.
The legacy of Executive Order 8802 extended far beyond the immediate war effort. It demonstrated the effectiveness of mass mobilization and direct negotiation with the executive branch, providing a blueprint for the later Civil Rights Movement. Although the FEPC was disbanded in 1946 due to a lack of congressional funding, the precedent of federal oversight in employment practices persisted. This early victory paved the way for President Harry Truman’s eventual desegregation of the military in 1948 and the comprehensive protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Miles Harrington serves as the Senior Correspondent for Federal Systems & Executive Power at Just Right News, where he brings a disciplined, constitutionalist lens to the inner workings of the American government. With a focus on the mechanics of the federal bureaucracy and the limits of executive authority, Harrington has established himself as a vital voice for readers who value transparency, accountability, and the preservation of the separation of powers.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Harrington’s perspective is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Old Dominion. Growing up in a city defined by its historical significance and its role as a center of American jurisprudence, he developed an early appreciation for the foundational principles of the Republic. His upbringing in Richmond—a place where the legacy of the Founding Fathers is woven into the landscape—instilled in him a belief that the federal government should remain within its constitutional bounds. This background informs his skepticism of centralized overreach and his commitment to reporting on the ways in which the administrative state impacts the lives of everyday citizens.
In his current role, Harrington specializes in the complexities of federal systems. He doesn’t just report on the headlines of the day; he digs into the structural shifts within the executive branch that often go unnoticed by the mainstream press. Whether he is analyzing the implications of a new federal regulation or investigating the expansion of agency jurisdiction, his work is characterized by a rigorous adherence to the facts and a dedication to the rule of law.
Harrington is perhaps best known for his signature feature series, “How Washington Works.” Through this ongoing project, he demystifies the often-opaque processes of the nation’s capital, pulling back the curtain on the “Deep State” and the unelected officials who wield significant influence over national policy. By breaking down complex legislative maneuvers and executive orders, he empowers Just Right News readers to understand the true levers of power in Washington. His reporting serves as a necessary check on the federal government, ensuring that the actions of those in power are held up to the light of public scrutiny.
Now based in Washington, D.C., Harrington operates at the epicenter of the political world, yet he remains intentionally distanced from the “Beltway bubble.” His proximity to the halls of power allows him to maintain a robust network of sources across the federal landscape, but his heart remains in the principled conservatism of his Virginia roots. He views his role not merely as a reporter, but as a steward of the public trust, dedicated to providing the clarity and context that conservative voters need to navigate an increasingly complex political environment.
Through his sharp analysis and unwavering commitment to the truth, Miles Harrington continues to be a cornerstone of the Just Right News team. His work ensures that the principles of limited government and executive restraint remain at the forefront of the national conversation, providing a crucial service to those who believe in a government that is truly of, by, and for the people.