Historical Note

James Farmer founded the national Congress of Racial Equality organization in 1942 with the goal of improving race relations and addressing racial discrimination through non-violent direct action such as sit-ins, boycotts and freedom rides. The Seattle Chapter of CORE began organizing in July 1961 and was recognized as an official chapter of the national organization in January 1962. The Seattle Chapter had several areas of focus including combating racist hiring practices, advocating for integration of schools and promoting open housing opportunities.

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, many Seattle businesses had no employees of color and actively refused to hire them. Those who were hired were often relegated to non-public-facing roles such as dishwashers or janitors. To demand the hiring of more diverse employees in a broader variety of roles, CORE organized pickets and boycotts of local companies such as A & P, Safeway, Frederick and Nelson, Nordstrom, Bon Marche, Graytop and Farwest cab companies, and Seattle First National Bank. In 1964, they also launched the Drive for Equal Employment in Downtown (DEEDS) campaign to protest widespread hiring discrimination in the downtown retail core.

School integration was another area of significant concern. Due to historically racist patterns of redlining, Seattle as a city was heavily segregated with most of the city's Black community living in the Central District. The segregation of neighborhoods had a waterfall effect on the segregation of schools. Schools in communities of color often received less resources to maintain buildings, supply classroom resources and support teachers. CORE created Operation Transfer which provided bus tokens to enable students to transfer out of Central Area schools and commute to schools in other neighborhoods. They also worked with other local organizations on initiated a Crosstown Bus Campaign to help connect the Central District with other areas of Seattle via public transportation. This campaign successfully led to the creation of the 48 bus route which is still in operation today. CORE members also helped organize the Seattle Schools Boycott of 1966 which took place over two days. During the boycott, CORE and other local organizations setup eight "Freedom Schools" for children to attend in lieu of their regular classes. Curriculum at the school focused on Black life, culture and history, subjects that were ignored in traditional school lesson plans.

Another aspect of CORE's activism was trying to bring equality to Seattle's real estate market. Many neighborhoods in Seattle had racial restrictive covenants, which banned people of color from living in the area. Even in areas without these covenants, many sellers and landlords would only consider inquiries from white applicants. CORE applied pressure to real estate firms, picketed at their offices to protest racist practices and launched Operation Windowshop, encouraging Black families to attend open houses in white neighborhoods. They also championed Seattle's Open Housing Ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing. Although the Ordinance was defeated in 1964, continued activism and additional pressure on the mayor's office led to its passage in 1968.

The Seattle chapter also coordinated fundraising events with proceeds going to support both the local chapter and national organization. In June 1962, they hosted comedian Dick Gregory and musician Dizzy Gillespie at the Moore Theatre. In May 1963, writer James Baldwin came to Seattle for an event at the Masonic Temple attended by over 1,400 people. They also held dances at The Norselander, a restaurant in Lower Queen Anne.

and the University of Washington's Civil Rights and Labor History Project website offer more information on the history of CORE.

Biographical Note

Jean "Maid" Adams joined CORE in 1962 on the recommendation of Seattle City Councilmember Wing Luke. Adams decided to become active in the civil rights movement after experiencing significant delays purchasing a home in Madrona and recognizing that her experience as a white woman did not compare to the difficulties faced by Black families going through the same process. Adams was an active member of CORE until 1968 when the group shifted towards all Black membership to support Black self-determination. During her time in the Seattle chapter, Adams helped run CORE's campaign against employment discrimination in local businesses, co-chairing the group's negotiations committee which monitored whether companies were hiring Black employees and organized boycotts if they refused. During the Seattle School Boycott in 1966, she acted as co-principal of the Freedom School at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church. She also helped organize other CORE campaigns fighting housing discrimination and police brutality and was one of the creators of the educational booklet . Following her involvement in CORE, Adams volunteered for the United Farm Workers Union. She earned her master's in education from the University of Washington and worked at the Green River Community College for 20 years. During this time she created a Multi-Ethnic Education kit for parents and children with books, toys, and other ephemera showcasing diverse communities. Adams was also active in the Election Protection Coalition, a 2004 effort to ensure equitable access to the voting booth.