the gustavus myers center for the study of bigotry and human rights, earlier known as the gustavus myers center for human rights or the gustavus myers center for the study of human rights in north america or several other such variations, was an american nonprofit organization that existed from 1984 to 2009. it took its name from american journalist and historian gustavus myers and, in particular, from his 1943 work "history of bigotry in the united states". the center was most known for the gustavus myers outstanding book award, given out each year to ten books. the award, in the words of the center, "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."