Cultural Equity in Physical Education : Case Studies for Transformative Practice

Cultural Equity in Physical Education amplifies crucial issues that affect students from racialized groups, provides culturally aware teaching strategies, and addresses the litany of racist practices (both unintentional and overt) directed toward Black, American Indian, Asian, Latine, and Indigenous youths.

Cultural biases and racism undermine the ability of students from racialized groups to reach their full potential. Now more than ever, schools need educators who acknowledge and value the cultural identities of their students and who develop cultural awareness and cultural connections in the classroom.

Through a series of nine case studies, Cultural Equity in Physical Education offers deep insights into the issues that American Indian, Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latino/Latina/Latine, and multiracial students face. A crucial resource for in-service and future PE teachers, the book aims to amplify critical issues that negatively affect these groups, address racist practices, and provide culturally aware teaching strategies affirming the worth of racialized students. The end goal is to elevate the perspectives of both students and teachers and to normalize positive experiences for all students in physical education.

With the most diverse collection of racialized scholars within physical education, the author and contributor teams offer authentic, meaningful content. The following is a partial list of case studies:

• Juggling Two Different Languages, Cultures, and Identities: A Japanese Immigrant
• Tragic Mulatto: Being Multicultural in a White Supremacy World
• Beyond Spelling Bees and Curries: Teaching Indian Students Beyond the Physical Education Classrooms
• “They Don’t Speak English”: Deficit Thinking and Immigrant Students
• Two Worlds Apart: A Navajo Walking in the World of Whiteness

Cultural Equity in Physical Education will help teachers meet the new national physical education standards, which incorporate cultural awareness and cultural connection. Each case study and its question prompts are designed to stimulate discussions, increase cultural awareness and intercultural competence, and give insight into adapting teaching methods to accommodate for the diversity of students.

Cultural Equity in Physical Education will help teachers adopt teaching practices that support cultural awareness and cultural connections among their students. In doing so, it will validate all students’ self-worth and swing the pendulum back toward a more equitable PE education.

Human Kinetics is proud to publish this book in association with SHAPE America, the national organization that defines excellence for school-based health and physical education professionals across the United States.