Informative Speech: The Congress of Racial Equality

1023 Words3 Pages

Topic: Congress of Racial Equality

Specific Purpose Statement: To inform my audience about the mission, members, activities and plans of the Congress of Racial Equality

The Congress of Racial Equality or CORE is a U.S. civil rights organization that played an essential role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century.

Membership in CORE is stated to be open to "anyone who believes that 'all people are created equal' and is willing to work towards the ultimate goal of true equality throughout the world."

It is officially classified as a philanthropic omnibus human rights organization.

Foundation of CORE:

· by a group of students in Chicago in 1942

· Early members included George Houser, James Farmer, Anna Murray and Bayard Rustin.

· Members were mainly pacifists (CORE evolved out of the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation.)

· deeply influenced by Henry David Thoreau and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi

· tried to implement the nonviolent civil disobedience campaign that M. Gandi used successfully against British rule in India.

· The students became convinced that the same methods could be employed by blacks to obtain civil rights in America.

· The Congress of Racial Equality sought to apply the principles of nonviolence as a tactic against segregation

The group's inspiration:

Krishnalal Shridharani's book "War without Violence" (1939, Harcourt Brace) outlined Gandhi's step...

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...ms facing minorities.

Biggest projects nowadays:

· Project Independence - Job Training Program

· Education, Image & Values

· Enhancement/Outreach

· Immigration Crisis & Counseling Center

CORE is working to make:

"EQUALITY A REALITY FOR ALL"

Main points of the presentation:

· James Farmer became National Director of the CORE in 1953

· In 1963 Floyd McKissick replaced James Farmer as national director of CORE.

· Until 1968, McKissick increasingly directed CORE's attention to the problems of the black ghetto.

· Innis was elected National Director of CORE in 1968 and 1972.

· Niger Innis and a son of Roy Innis is a national spokesman for CORE,

· Innis led teams of prominent Americans to Nigeria in 1996, ‘97 and 1998 to monitor the elections which are part of the transition process from military to civilian rule.

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