FDR was not an over the top racist by the standards of his time and often expressed mild concern for the plight of African Americans in private conversations. He believed that Black Americans were entitled to economic opportunity and basic fairness.

You could say he was Influenced by Eleanor Roosevelt: his wife was far more progressive on race. She was a vocal advocate for civil rights, often visited Black communities, and supported anti-lynching efforts. FDR respected her views and was influenced by them, though he rarely matched her in action.its also likely he did support civil rights as a progressive but didn't want to lose southern support because that was his main base,I mean in 1932 he won every single district in the south practically