Another flaw in the AAA was that it operated at a ‘’ grass root’’ level, meaning that funds were handled by local officials. This was essential for Roosevelt to gain the support of Southern politicians. Roosevelt belonged to the Democrat Party, which had traditionally been in favour of the segregationist policies of the Southern states. Even though, thanks to his wife’s commitment to the issue of civil rights, he would change his stance on the subject, Roosevelt made no plans to challenge them, as he thought his economic reforms were more important. Since his proposals had to be approved by congress, the support of those States was essential. This compromise allowed them to discriminate and exclude Black workers from the AAAs subsidies, meaning