"This book carefully and thoroughly examines one of the most important figures in American legal and civil liberties circles in the first half of the twentieth century." — Bruce J. Dierenfield, author of Separating Church and State: How the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union Led the Nation in Religious Liberty"Hamm's book is a vital intervention in correcting this oversight and is a valuable contribution to the overall history of the ACLU and civil rights. Hamm exposes Hays's rich, multilayered activism, and by focusing on Hays, he reveals several understudied grassroots movements, court cases, and key individuals who tackled discriminatory practices." — Kendra Gage, History, University of California, Riverside