The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) just issued a statement on Diversity: https://www.arce.org/arces-statement-racial-and-cultural-diversity
This statement is partially in response to a call for such a letter issued by five Black women scholars in the field.

Our letter was signed by 100 scholars and called for:
- Diversify the ARCE Board of Governors, which is all white with the exception of one member. The President’s Advisory Council is barely more diverse.

- Require a pledge by member academic institutions to hire more faculty of color, especially Black faculty and postdocs; accept a more diverse student body; and offer courses that explore Egypt in its African context.

- Diversify the attendees at the ARCE annual convention by offering scholarships to local colleges’ Archaeology, Africana Studies, and History department students so they may attend the annual convention free of charge.

- Work to increase the number of black students on archaeological excavations in Egypt by engaging in outreach to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and by creating pipelines that make it easier for students of color at any university to participate in

archaeological excavations. ARCE could create a scholarship to facilitate this essential training for Black students interested in Egyptian archaeology by partnering with organizations like the Society of Black Archaeologists.

- Acknowledging the lack of informal networks, financial resources, and personal connections that prevent black and other students of color from acquiring the technical skills necessary for advancing within the field, and

providing funding for technical training opportunities such as apprenticeships, mentorships, field schools, and training programs.

- In light of the upcoming 2021 annual meeting in Minneapolis, ARCE should issue a statement that it will consider the human and civil rights records of any potential host city for its conference.

My co-collaborators - four fierce Black women - can identify themselves here if they so wish.
ARCE has convened a committee to work toward resolving these issues. Now the real work begins.