Black Lives Matter

The founding principles of the American Literature Association emphasize our commitment to inclusivity and diversity. The organization’s Executive Board condemns all forms of racism, both individual and systemic. We call upon our membership to advance understanding through teaching, scholarship, and service, and to ensure that non-white voices, histories, and traditions are acknowledged, studied, and valued. We believe that the study of American literature should be an important component in the fight for racial justice in our country, and encourage our membership to bring change through education, including through the teaching of the literatures and cultures of under-represented communities, the full exploration of the complex history that shapes our multiple traditions and the construction of race and ethnicity, and the advancement of the work of scholars of color.

-ALA Executive Board