In 1966, CORE embraced the Black Power movement, moving away from non-violence as a philosophy and strategy and rejecting integration as a worthwhile goal to attain. CORE became a Black Nationalist organization, espousing the concepts of self-determination and community control. Their new direction was heavily influenced by Malcolm X and the earlier Marcus Garvey United Negro Improvement Association. It was Harlem CORE that led CORE in this direction at the 1966 annual CORE convention.
The colors of the CORE logo are the colors of the Black Nationalist flag dating back to Garvey. The red represents the blood that was shed by Africans in slavery. The green is for the land of Africa. The black is symbolic of the Black people. Whites were no longer allowed to be CORE members after 1968.