Dr. Richard F. Hamm, Distinguished SUNY Teaching Professor, will discuss his book, Confronting Racism: Arthur Garfield Hays and the Fight for Equality, 1925-1954.

Published in 2025 by the State University of New York Press, Confronting Racism explores the life and work of prominent lawyer and co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union Arthur Garfield Hays (1881-1954).

Hays, who began his career as a corporate lawyer, became one of New York's leading advocates for civil liberties and civil rights, and Dr. Hamm's talk will consider how and why Hays's successes and limitations remain relevant today. A question-and-answer period will follow the book talk.