Each year ten works were so noted for their treatment of the subjects of bigotry, intolerance, and inequitable power arrangements in society.
The purpose of the awards was initially described as being "an annual award for the best scholarship published on the subject of intolerance in the U.S."[1] This definition was later stated as being for the purpose of "commend[ing] 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.
[5] Reviewers were formed on a selection committee to read and report on nominated works.
[8] In the final year they were given, the books that received awards were said to have been selected from a field of nearly 400 nominations.
[9] Recipients of the award include Toni Cade Bambara, Paula Giddings, Joy Harjo, Joe L. Kincheloe, Walter LaFeber, Ruben Martinez, Nell Irvin Painter, Steven Salaita, Shirley R. Steinberg, Clarence Taylor, Harriet A. Washington and Kenji Yoshino.