American Academy Of Arts And Letters, Static For More Than A Century, Makes An Attempt To Diversify Itself

Here’s the deal: “Founded in 1898, the institution had capped membership at 250 since 1908; members are elected for life and pay no dues.” Before this year, the only way to add a member was for another member to die – and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Academy was made up of mostly white men. Poet Joy Harjo, one of the new, expanded membership: ““Every culture has contributed to the restoration, remaking and revisioning of this country. … Together we are a rich, dynamic story field of every shade, tone and rhythm.” – The New York Times