Black + Archaeology: Being a Member of the Society of Black Archaeologists in 2025 and Beyond
Speaker: William A. White, III
Associate Professor, Anthropology
University of California, Berkeley
As one of the founding members of the Society of Black Archaeologists, I have seen the organization grow dramatically since 2011. What started as a small group of about 10 Black archaeologists, the SBA has grown to over 300 members of numerous races, ethnicities, and nationalities scattered around the globe. This growth has not been easy as it has taken place amongst the backdrop of political transformations, economic fluctuations, and worldwide antiblack movements. In the face of these pressures, SBA’s mission remains focused on ethical treatment of African Diasporic sites, increasing the number of Black archaeologists, and including Black people in the study of our own history. The SBA has also provided a place of belonging for archaeologists of African descent while building durable collaborations with government agencies, cultural resource management companies, and Black communities. This talk summarizes some of the current efforts under way as the SBA approaches its 15-year anniversary. The goal is to talk about the hope we have for archaeology everywhere.
