(1941) - Executive Order 8802 - Asa (A.) Philip Randolph

In 1941, prominent civil rights activists, including A. Philip Randolph planned the March on Washington Movement (MOWM), where tens of thousands of Black Americans were to march in protest of discriminatory practices, particularly in defense industry employment practices. Out of fear of escalation, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802, prohibiting discrimination within the defense industry. Through the Executive Order came the Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC), which was the agency which enforced non-discriminatory practices from occurring. The FEPC was eventually dissolved due to limited funding and management. Yet this proved to be a significant point in history, as it became the forerunner to Executive Order 9981 (1948), which went further and banned segregation.