DEI statement of the Business History Conference

Dear subscribers to The Exchange,

I invite members and subscribers to read the recently published DEI statement of the Business History Conference. Past President Andrea Lluch appointed an Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Jennifer Black, Justene Hill Edwards, Shennette Garrett-Scott). The statement (see below) also created a standing committee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

“Commitment to Principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”

The Business History Conference is an international organization dedicated to studying the ways in which business culture has evolved around the world and over time. We value the exploration of business history from multidisciplinary perspectives, and from scholars deploying a variety of methodologies. While our membership continues to expand, drawing historians from many regions of the world, we want to cultivate the next generation of business historians: one that will be responsive to the evolving challenges of an increasingly global society. In encouraging broad participation from scholars that reflect our diverse organization, the BHC has an opportunity to address past and continued inequalities within our profession, and within societies more broadly.

The BHC is committed to promoting the principles of broad equity and inclusion, and to expanding the diversity of the organization through a variety of channels, especially through our membership and the topics and themes represented in the field of business history. The organization pledges to resist the reproduction of structural inequalities that have characterized the study of business history in previous decades, and to amplify the voices of underrepresented groups wherever possible. The BHC welcomes and encourages broad participation in the organization from all individuals, embracing a global community of academics that is inclusive of various political, economic, religious, cultural, gendered, racial / ethnic, and geographic or place-based identities; sexual orientations; and persons with disabilities. The BHC strives to create a collaborative, inclusive, and accessible scholarly environment that is respectful of diverse abilities, perspectives, orientations, and identities in all operational aspects, including day-to-day operations, events, programs, awards, and the organization’s annual meeting. The international reach of our organization, and the myriad business forms at play throughout the world, necessitate that the BHC respect and accept such diverse perspectives and voices in facilitating the study of business history.

Read more here.