Celebrating the 50th: UTSA professor shares history of Black athletes and intellectuals

UTSA Associate Professor Langston Clark researches the connection between African American athletes and intellectualism.

(Aug. 21, 2019) -- Langston Clark, associate professor in the UTSA Department of Kinesiology, Health and Nutrition, believes that most people are unaware of the long history of African Americans who were both exceptional athletes and intellectuals.

Clark will present, Mind and Muscle: The Intersection of Black Athleticism and Intellectualism, in the August installment of the UTSA 50th Anniversary Speaker Series. His lecture, scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, is presented by the College of Education and Human Development.

Clark hopes that those who attend the lecture will recognize the importance of developing complex and multifaceted identities of Black children. He says the talk will especially benefit parents, educators, coaches, employees of athletic organizations, and most importantly, Black student-athletes of all ages.

In addition to his interest in Black athletes, Dr. Clark studies the manifestation of social justice within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from the vantage point of teacher education. His work can be found in Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, the Journal of Black Psychology, the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, the Teacher Educator, and the Journal of Negro Education. He earned his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Physical Education Teacher Education from UT-Austin.

Clark will be introduced by author David Glasco.  Glasco is a member of the UTSA class of 2014 and one of the university’s first football players. While he possesses football accolades, he also earned his law degree and is a children’s motivational book author.

The UTSA lecture is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on August 27 at The Garage at the Pearl, 250 East Grayson St., San Antonio. Doors to the venue, which includes a cash bar, will open at 6 p.m. Dr. Clark will begin speaking at 6:30 p.m. and will be available to meet with attendees and answer questions at 7:15 p.m., after the completion of the event.

To celebrate 50 years as San Antonio’s urban serving university and to thank San Antonio for its support and commitment to higher education, UTSA is presenting its 50th Anniversary Scholars Speaker Series throughout 2019, featuring experts on a broad range of contemporary issues that impact society today. Each event is free and open to the public.

— Pamela Lutrell

Learn more about the UTSA Department of Kinesiology, Health and Nutrition.

Celebrate UTSA’s 50th Anniversary and share social media posts about the 50th using the hashtag #UTSA50.

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