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CORE: The Road from Interracialism to Black Power
Abstract
The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was formed in 1942 as a
nonviolent organization with an ideology of interracialism. As late as
1963, CORE was unique among civil rights groups with a membership that
was two-thirds white. At this time, its record of achievements
included Freedom Rides & significant participation in the
desegregation of transportation & public facilities. These
victories instilled in black members of CORE a new feeling of race
pride & black identity. At this same time, black separatists like
Malcom X were having an impact on black attitudes. Many civil rights
workers dealing with Ru poor & slum-dwellers viewed integration as
a secondary, or even irrelevant, goal. Additionally, many new recruits
to the CORE organization did not share the commitment to
interracialism. By late 1964, many whites realized that their
participation & effectiveness in decision-making positions within
CORE would be limited by the growing Black Power faction of the
organization. By 1965, white leadership & membership had dropped
significantly; this trend was accelerated by a proposed resolution
(never adopted) that whites be barred from staff positions. With the
resignation of J. Farmer, a CORE founder, from the national directory,
& the adoption of Black Power slogans, CORE's role as an
organization dedicated to multiracial goals came to an end. In 1968,
National Director R. Innis declared CORE to be a Black Nationalist
organization "once and for all." M. Cain.
Journal
(October 1972)
vol1
no4
pages12-19
Categories
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Membership Associations
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Voluntary and Member Associations
