Frank J. Miranda papers

Frank J. Miranda was born in Roxbury Massachusetts in 1932. At the age of 17, he joined the Air Force where he assumed a clerical position. After his discharge in 1953, he started work in 1956 as an administration technician with the Army Reserve and took evening classes at Boston College. While looking for a place to live in 1962, he was discriminated against by a realtor. He filed a housing discrimination complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and the intake clerk there referred him to the Housing Committee of Boston CORE.

As stated in its 1964 constitution, "The purpose of Greater Boston CORE shall be to abolish discrimination based on race, color, creed, or ethnic origin, as practiced in various phases of community life. The organization shall work towards this purpose by negotiation and direct nonviolent action, and by taking of public positions on issues involving prejudice or discrimination" ("Constitution of the Greater Boston Congress of Racial Equality," Box 1, Folder 1). During his four and a half years of involvement with this organization, FJM was chair of the employment committee, vice chair of the chapter, treasurer, housing aide, a trouble shooter for the chapter, mediator, and chair in his last year. "At its height Boston CORE was completely involved in civil rights issues in Roxbury, including housing, rent strikes, legislative issues, education, fair employment, government services" ("Frank Miranda, Former Boston CORE Activist," Box 1, Folder 21).

Following his involvement with CORE, FJM became the director of the Cultural Enrichment and Tutorial Program of Operation Exodus, a community based and parent-initiated organization to deal with the educational problems of African American students in Boston. Operation Exodus maintained programs dealing with busing, libraries, camping, vocational education and career development. FJM was also the administrative program director of an organization associated with Operation Exodus named Black Heritage Camp, a "well rounded camping experience for our children, based on black pride and awareness" ("Rolling Ridge – Exodus Camping Programs," Box 1, Folder 22). In 1970 FJM received a master's degree in education from Harvard. Then he was personnel director for the Columbia Point Health Center. His last position, before leaving Boston in 1972, was the deputy superintendent at the Massachusetts Correctional Pre Release Center. He then accepted a position as personnel director of a Navajo hospital in Ganado, Arizona. In 1992, Miranda helped organize a reunion of Boston Core members at the Saint Johns Saint James Episcopal Church in Roxbury. FJM spent the rest of his career at the City of Albuquerque's Human Rights Department where he retired in 1997 as the department director. After his retirement FJM went on to work with the New Mexico Human Rights Coalition, serving as their volunteer executive director.

1932

FJM born in Roxbury, Mass.

1949

Joined the Air Force

1956-1970

Administrative Technician with the Army Reserve

1962-1966

Involved with Boston CORE

1968-1970

Director of the Cultural Enrichment and Tutorial Program of Operation Exodus and Administrative Program Director of Black Heritage Camp

1970

Received Master's of Education Degree from Harvard

1970-1971?

Personnel Director for the Columbia Point Health Center

1971-1972?

Deputy Superintendent at the Massachusetts Correctional Pre Release Center

1972-?

Personnel Director of Navajo hospital in Ganado, Arizona

1992

Helped to organize CORE reunion in Roxbury, Mass.

199?-1997

Department Director of Albuquerque's Human Rights Department

1997-

Volunteer Executive Director with the New Mexico Human Rights Coalition