Final answer:
The Progressive Era reforms largely neglected the civil rights of African Americans, focusing instead on issues relevant to middle-class white Americans. Despite some individual support from leaders like Roosevelt, government action on racial equality was limited. Organizations like the NAACP arose to combat discrimination, but broad change was slow until the mid-20th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Progressive Era, the push for social reform primarily addressed issues facing middle-class whites, often overlooking the needs and rights of African Americans. Progressives sought to perfect democracy, but their vision did not usually include civil rights for African Americans. The efforts were often concentrated on efficiency, expansion of suffrage to select demographics, and reliance on professionals' expertise. African Americans faced persistent segregation, discrimination, and racial violence, especially in the Southern United States.
Although President Roosevelt and others like him supported individual African Americans such as Booker T. Washington, they and Presidents Taft and Wilson did not make civil rights a priority. African Americans disagreed on strategies to combat their challenges, ranging from advocating for economic opportunities to demanding civil rights. Organizations like the NAACP were formed, aiming to address these inequalities, but action from government and widespread societal change was limited.