doi:10.7916/d8-s603-j254Oral history interview with James Robinson, 1999Robinson, Jamesoral historiesmixed materialCivil rights movements--History--20th century.--United StatesCivil rights demonstrations--United StatesPacifismPeace movements--History--20th century.--United StatesDraft resistersFund raisingUnited States Race relations 20th centuryRobinson, JamesCongress of Racial EqualityCongress of Racial Equality. Chicago ChapterCongress of Racial Equality. New York (Harlem) ChapterIn this interview with Sheila Michaels, James (Jim) Robinson discusses his civil rights activism, pacifism, and the development of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Robinson starts the interview describing his family history, college experience, his involvement with the War Resisters League, the peace movement, and his time spent living at the Harlem YMCA after graduating from Columbia University. He describes activism with Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) and the founding of CORE. Activities he recounts from his CORE involvement include the Journey of Reconciliation, Freedom Rides, and Fellowship Houses in Chicago. He also discusses CORE's efforts to desegregate housing, eating establishments, and recreational spaces in various cities. He highlights CORE's role in conducting training in nonviolent protest techniques. He details his role as a fundraiser for CORE, as a Field Secretary and later Executive Secretary. He analyzes the public's perception of CORE following the Freedom Rides and sit-ins. He also discusses CORE’s collaboration with other civil rights movement organizations including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Robinson discusses the philosophical foundations of CORE's commitment to nonviolent techniques. He discusses being sent to work camps as a conscientious objector status during World War II, and his consent to participate in a life raft rations experiment. Last, Robinson discusses the demographic shift of CORE's membership and leadership and fundraising for the American Committee on Africa