Critical Race Studies in Physical Education: Advocacy in Action for Black Students

Tara B. Blackshear is an equity scholar who specializes in health, physical activity, and education. She is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology in Physical Education Teacher Education at Towson University. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education at Florida A & M University and a Doctor of Education in exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Before her current role, Dr. Blackshear taught 17-years in public, private, charter, and international schools in the United States, Egypt, and Thailand, and a 3-year post at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill working to prevent type-II diabetes among middle school youth in the most extensive school-based physical activity intervention in the United States.

Dr. Blackshear examines the social determinants of health and physical activity, fitness measures and outcomes, and inequities in education with a particular focus on race, women of color, and youth. Her interdisciplinary approach allows her to challenge the status quo, bring awareness, and provide solutions that aid in programming that confronts structures that negatively impact the wellbeing of groups that have been marginalized and minoritized. Dr. Blackshear's research has garnered national and international attention. It has begun to impact institutional change, policy, and practice, as evident in her participation in global media and consultation requests with organizations and agencies that seek to create culturally responsive, equitable environments. Dr. Blackshear's candid perspective has shown effectiveness in transforming performative institutional gestures into measurable outcomes with accountability. Critical Race Studies in Physical Education further Dr. Blackshear's unwavering commitment to confront and disrupt structures that do not serve Black youth in health, physical activity, and education. She is ready to embark on the collaborative effort with co-editor Dr. Brian Culp, to bring social justice to all.

Brian Culp is a professor and Department Chair in the WellStar College of Health and Human Services at Kennesaw State University. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia in health and physical education, a masters in sport administration from Georgia State University, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction at the University of Georgia. Prior to his current position, Dr. Culp taught at Armstrong Atlantic State University and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. At each of these universities, Culp has assisted in the preparation of future professionals for sustained community engagement in the United States, Canada, Africa, and the Caribbean.

A lifelong learner, Dr. Culp’s research has incorporated topics under the umbrella of promoting equity. These areas have included multiculturalism, service learning, successful aging, urban teacher education, bio-politics, coaching, social justice, archetypal pedagogy and semiotics. Culp was inducted as the 34th fellow of the National Association of Kinesiology in Higher Education in 2019, at the time, the youngest person to be awarded that distinction. Internationally, Dr. Culp has been a Fulbright-Hays program participant to Kenya, a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Research Chair in Montreal, Canada and currently serves as a Fulbright Specialist for the organization.