<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <style> fieldset { display: inline; background: rgba(255, 255, 0, 0.7); color: black; } div { background: green; position:relative; z-index:1; } div#one { float: left; } </style> </head> <body> <form> <fieldset> <div id="one">I should be black text on a green background</div> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div>I should be black text on a green background</div> </fieldset> </form> </body> </html>