Congress of Racial Equity

Founded in 1942, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was one of the most important civil rights organizations in the United States. Dedicated to equality for all people, it was inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi as captured by Richard B. Gregg’s in The Power of Nonviolence (1934). James Farmer, George Houser, James R. Robinson, and Bernice Fisher were among initial founders of CORE in Chicago, who organized sit-ins to challenge segregation in public facilities in the north side of Chicago. The local branch of CORE in Brooklyn successfully advocated policymakers for more housing capacity and tenant protections.