Portraits of Hate, Lessons of Hope is a student-run website founded in 2008 by the Religious Intolerance in the United States class at Wake Forest University, directed by Professor Lynn S. Neal. This class, made up of undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of disciplines (religion, psychology, economics, business, etc.), worked together to conceive of and create this site and promote their vision (a vision that will be maintained by subsequent classes). The vision of Portraits of Hate, Lessons of Hope is to promote a nation of understanding, free of intolerance. We have collected an extensive archive of historical images which express various forms of religious hatred. In sharing these images we intend to show the variety and persistence of religious intolerance in America and combat it through education and discussion. Portraits of Hate, Lessons of Hope is funded by a grant received from the Chambers Fund and the Office of Entrepreneurship at Wake Forest University. We are grateful for their support and help in promoting religious tolerance in the United States.

Founding Members

Courtney Abrams
Stephen Kliefoth
Bryan Kliefoth
Kristen L. Little
Ryan Niland
Mary Little
Peter J. Mikeal
Erin E. Pankau
Richard A. Roberts
Nicholas Rubino
Katherine J. Skarbek
Laila Salem
Ashley L. Shazor
Matthew Triplett
Matthew W. Imboden, MA ‘08
M. Gregory Dragas, MA ‘09
Christine Foust, MA ‘09
Jonathan Leidheiser-Stoddard, MA ‘09
Emily L. Weston, MA ‘09