Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights

The Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights, founded in 1984, was named in honor of Gustavus Myers, the pioneering historian who authored History of Bigotry in the United States, NY: Random House, in 1943.

The annual Gustavus Myers Award, initiated by James R. Bennett, recently retired University of Arkansas professor, commends works published in a given year which extend our understanding of the root causes of bigotry and the range of options we as humans have in constructing alternative ways to share power.

The United States long has been a country with diverse peoples. To our detriment it has more often drawn upon its heritage of conquest than its ideals.

The Gustavus Myers Center promotes living out diversity equitably. It encourages and welcomes the increasing range of scholarly and advocacy publications which help us deal equitably with pluralism. It encourages collective action to dismantle structures of domination. Now in its 24th year, we believe fervently that in the struggle is the hope.