Talk:Congress of Racial Equality

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Has it not done anything since 1972? Tim Long 16:47, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

I think it's a shell controlled by Roy Innis and used a front for right-wing lobby groups. Some direct quotes from former members and other groups might be useful in establishing whether this view is correct, or at least whether it is widely-shared. JQ 05:45, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

This is a very biased comment. The buzzword "right-wing" is often used to describe conservative groups. The label "left wing" is used far less often. Attaching the label "right-wing" serves to close people's minds and discourage a truly fair and balanced critical evaluation of a person or organization. It's time to recognize that there is diversity within the Black community as there is in all groups and that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson do not speak for all Blacks. It's interesting to note that news item released today reports that Al Sharpton is decrying the promotion of gangsterism within the Black community and Hollywood. Roy Innis has been saying this for years. Somehow when Sharpton says this it becomes acceptable.

BIASED statement in article: "Since 1968, CORE has been led by National Chairman, Roy Innis. Subsequent political developments within the organization led it more and more to the right, leading it to support the presidential candidacy of Richard Nixon in 1968 and 1972." The tone of this comment is that it is bad for a civil rights organization to support republican candidates. Again, use of "right" and "right wing" serve to close people's minds and discourage debate and dialogue. More neutral language would be to state that CORE is a conservative civil rights organization.

BIASED COMMENT: "I think it's a shell controlled by Roy Innis and used a front for right-wing lobby groups." Now, would you also say that the Rainbow coalition is just a shell controlled by Jesse Jackson and used as a front for left-wing lobby groups?

It's obvious, and Wikipedia's Rainbow Coalition/PUSH article confirms it that the Rainbow Coalition is controlled by Jesse Jackson. It's also obvious that it's leftwing, but (unlike with CORE) no-one is likely to be surprised by this. On the other hand, unlike CORE, it's not a shell (it has lots of real branches and real members), and its not used a front for lobby groups - it has its own agenda.JQ 05:10, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

I tried to give some credible, if generally to the Left, sources for the criticism. I feel that saying "it's a shell" bluntly, and without support, would be inappropriate for an article. However stating that a leading former member called it "fraudulent" is simply reporting an opinion. Also I toned down the part about moving to the Right.--T. Anthony 03:21, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] CRITICISM

Under the critcism line I saw it noted:

Critics charge that since taking over the organization in 1968, Roy Innis has moved it sharply to the right. The Village Voice says that in the early 1990s, co-founder James L. Farmer, Jr. stated that, in his opinion, CORE was "fraudulent."[2] It also faced criticism from the liberals and progressives. The organization refused to acknowledge that hundreds of thousands of Black Americans are dying of AIDS, and an advocacy and education program for black women was cancelled.[3]

I checked the noted source and saw no note of CORE refusing to acknowledge that hundreds of thousands of Black Americans are dying of AIDS. Thusly I am removing it. --Hokgwai 04:32, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] CORE SINCE 1968

In this line it was noted:

More recently, CORE has been vocally against same-sex marriage: "When you say to society at large that you have to accept, not only accept our lifestyle, but promote it and put it on the same plane and equate it with traditional marriage, that's where we draw the line and we say 'no.' That's not something that is a civil right. That is not something that is a human right," said Niger Innis, national spokesman for CORE. In recent times it has been praised by the conservative Project 21 organization.[1]

I checked the reference and saw note mention of CORE, nor it's National Spokesman Niger Innis speaking against same sex marriage. Additionally I saw no mention of Praise from Project 21.

I am removing these lines unless someone would like to contest or help support the statements above. --Hokgwai 04:42, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

Replaced with a link to CORE stating Niger Innis affiliation with Project 21. JQ 03:47, 22 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Politcal Campaign

This article fails to mention any of CORE's involvment in the March On Washington, Floyd McKissick nor the Freedom Schools. I am adding more material to this section unless there is contention with this. --Hokgwai 04:52, 21 February 2007 (UTC)