The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was a prominent civil rights organization in the United States that played a key role in the struggle for racial equality and justice. Founded in 1942 by a group of interracial activists, including James Farmer, George Houser, and Bayard Rustin, CORE initially focused on nonviolent direct action tactics to challenge segregation and discrimination.

One of CORE's most well-known initiatives was the Freedom Rides in 1961, where integrated groups of activists traveled through the South to challenge segregation on interstate buses and facilities. The Freedom Rides drew national attention to the ongoing struggle for civil rights and helped to bring about changes in federal policy regarding desegregation.

CORE also played a significant role in organizing the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The organization continued to be active in the civil rights movement throughout the 1960s, working on issues such as voting rights, housing discrimination, and economic inequality.

CORE's legacy in the Black freedom struggle is significant, as it helped to pave the way for the achievements of the civil rights movement and the eventual passage of key legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.