The modern era of socially responsible investing evolved during the political climate of the 1960s. During this time, socially concerned investors increasingly sought to address equality for women, civil rights, and labor issues. Economic development projects started or managed by Dr. Martin Luther King, like the Montgomery bus boycott and the Operation Breadbasket Project in Chicago, established the beginning model for socially responsible investing efforts.
The 1960s social climate played a pivotal role in shaping the modern era of socially conscious investing. As socially motivated investors grew more prominent, they sought to address pressing issues like women's rights, racial equality, and workers' rights. Dr. Martin Luther King's economic development projects, including the Montgomery bus boycott and Operation Breadbasket in Chicago, served as a catalyst for socially responsible investing.