The South Shore Coalition for Human Rights is a grassroots membership-based civil rights organization. It was founded in the spring of 1977 by a group of concerned people who were seeking affirmatively to assure fair practices to all, while working to create a positive racial consciousness. A “coalition” took shape, proud of its rich diversity in terms of backgrounds and beliefs, and united to work tirelessly for equality and multicultural understanding in our community.

The organization’s statement of purpose sums up its goals: ‘To promote equality of opportunity regardless of race, color, creed or national origin in the South Shore area, with specific emphasis on housing, education, and employment; and to assist in providing a climate for multicultural understanding.’

Our program evolved on two levels. We felt a special responsibility for developing understanding among our white neighbors and coworkers as to the vital importance of unity for all of us. At the same time, we grew to understand that actual equality could only be achieved through the vigorous application of affirmative action in such areas as housing, education and employment. Projecting the aims of the Coalition to the South Shore community was accomplished in a variety of ways: statements to the press that dealt with current racial issues, presenting educational forums and films, and conducting workshops on racism and affirmative action.