Final answer:
President Franklin D. Roosevelt advanced civil rights for African Americans by signing Executive Order 8802, which banned racial discrimination among federal employers and contractors. This action was in response to pressures from black labor leaders and was a key step forward in civil rights prior to the movement of the 1960s.
Step-by-step explanation:
In addressing actions taken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) to advance civil rights for African Americans, it is important to note that he implemented several notable policies. While his broad New Deal policies created job opportunities and various programs for all Americans, including African Americans, specific action aimed directly at advancing civil rights for African Americans was the signing of Executive Order 8802.
This order, which Roosevelt signed in 1941, was a direct result of the civil rights movement and banned racial discrimination among employers and contractors involved with the federal government. It is a significant acknowledgement of FDR's contribution to civil rights, even before the famous Civil Rights Act of 1964.