Final answer:
The Works Progress Administration was a crucial federal jobs program during the Great Depression, which ultimately employed a substantial number of African Americans and worked to improve equality in employment opportunities. It also included cultural projects that preserved African American history and culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Works Progress Administration and Its Significance for African Americans
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a key federal jobs program established in 1935 during the Great Depression. It aimed to stimulate the economy and alleviate unemployment by becoming an employer of last resort. While it initially faced criticism for discriminatory hiring practices, efforts were taken under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration to improve equality in employment. The WPA came to employ 350,000 African Americans annually, accounting for 15 percent of its workforce, and increased African American involvement in other programs like the CCC and the PWA.
The WPA's legacy concerning African Americans is significant. It provided employment opportunities in a time of widespread discrimination and economic hardship. In addition to job creation, it had various cultural initiatives, such as Federal Project Number One, which included a literacy program that helped over one million African American children. The WPA Art Projects also sponsored artists, including Aaron Douglas who painted the mural series 'Aspects of Negro Life' reflecting African American history.
The WPA was not just about construction projects; it also encompassed the Federal Writers Project, documenting essential historical narratives, including 2000 interviews with individuals who had experienced slavery. These contributions reflect the WPA's role in preserving history and addressing the underrepresentation of African Americans.