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Demetrius  Pearson

Demetrius Pearson, Ed.D.

Associate Professor

Office Number: 104P GAR
Phone: 713.743.9849
Fax: 713.743.9860

Email: dpearson@uh.edu

Mailing Address:
3875 Holman St., Rm 104 Garrison
Houston, TX 77204-6015

Research Interests

Dr. Pearson’s research areas have focused on the socio-cultural and historical aspects of sport, as well as physical activity. Most recently he has conducted research and written about African American involvement in various sport forms, including North American Rodeo, as well as their depiction in contemporary sport films. He currently maintains a repository listing of American sport films from 1930 to the present. Dr. Pearson contributed to the book Black Cowboys in the American West: On the Range, on the Stage, behind the Badge which won the Ray and Pat Browne Award for Best Edited Collection in Popular Culture and American Culture. He wrote Chapter 6 of the book titled, "Shadow Riders of the Subterranean Circuit: A Descriptive Account of Black Rodeo in the Texas Gulf Coast Region." His book, Black Rodeo in the Texas Gulf Coast Region: Charcoal in the Ashes, was released in May 2021.

Recent Publications and Research Activity

(Partial Listing)

Pearson, D. W. (2021). Black Rodeo in the Texas Gulf Coast Region: Charcoal in the Ashes. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Johnson, L. M., Pearson, D. W., Zapalac, R. K., & Zhang, J. J., (2020). Consumer behavior of women’s sports. In B. G. Pitts & J. J. Zhang (Eds.), Sport business in the United States: Contemporary perspectives (pp. 194-213). London, UK: Routledge.

Lee. D., Pearson, D.W., Cottingham, M., Lee, M., Yu, H. Y., Pitts, B. G. & Zhang, J. J. (2020). Management and marketing of sports in the U.S.: An introduction. In B. C. Pitts & J. J. Zhang (Eds.), Sport business in the United States: Contemporary perspectives. (pp. 1-
23). London, UK: Routledge.

Pearson, D. W. (2020). Social justice and Black basketball: Playing the game on and off the court. In D. D. Brown (Ed.), Passing the ball: Sports in African American life and culture (pp. 67-84). Jefferson, NC: McFarland.

Pearson, D. W., & Brown, D. D. (2020). Madame executive: Baseball the Manley way. Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/17430437.2020.1741126

Pearson, D. W. (2019). Ethnic diversity and the ascension of American basketball: A socio-cultural and historical analysis. In J. J. Zhang & B. Pitts (Eds.), Globalized sport management in diverse cultural contexts (pp. 259-277). London, UK: Routledge.

Pearson, D. W., Curtis, R. L., & Zhang, J. J., (2019). Visibilities of American Black males in professional sport and sport films: Contrasts over 80 years, 1930-2009. In J. J. Zhang & B. Pitts (Eds.), Globalized sport management in diverse cultural context (pp. 239-258).
London, UK: Routledge.

Zhang, J. J., Pearson, D., Qian, T. Y., & Kim, E. (2018). The globalized sport industry: Historical perspectives. In E. MacIntosh, G. Bravo, & M. Li (Eds.), International sport management (2nd ed.) (pp. 15-29). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Daniels, E., Cottingham, M., Walsh, D., & Pearson, D. (2017). An evaluation of university recreation center outdoor programs for people with disabilities: Perspectives from professionals. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership 9(1), 84-99.

Lee, D., Giannoulakis, C., Pearson, D., Breslin, W., & Kim, S. (2017). Perceived authenticity of sport teams: An exploratory analysis. International Journal of Sport Management 18, 292-312.

Lee, D. H, Cottingham, M, Pearson, D., Kim, S. H., & Park, J. (2016). Collaborative strategy in sports industry: Team co-branding. The Service Industries Journal 36(11-12), 595-613.

Pearson, D. W. (2016). Shadow riders of the subterranean circuit: A descriptive account of Black rodeo in the Texas Gulf Coast region. In B. Glasrud & M. N. Searles (Eds.). Black cowboys in the American West: On the range, on the stage, behind the badge (pp. 101-113). Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

Pearson, D. W., & Lam, E. T. C. (2015). Sport theme feature film analysis: A complimentary instructional technique within sport management. Journal of Physical Education and Sports Management 2(2), 26-40.

Pearson, D. W., & Lam, E. T. C. (2015). Faith-based physical activity and sport program initiatives: An exploratory pilot study. Journal of Physical Education and Sports
Management 2
(1), 91-107.

Pearson, D. W. (2014). Right place, right time: The galvanization of Brooklyn during the Robinson years. In J. L. Conyers Jr. (Series Ed.), Essays on race and sports (pp. 59-70). Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co.

Pearson, D. W. (2013). Basketball and ethnic diversity. In C. E. Cortes (Ed.), Multicultural America: A multimedia encyclopedia: (Vol. 1, pp. 321-325). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Pearson, D. W. (2013). Brooklyn Dodgers. In C. E. Cortes (Ed.), Multicultural America: A multimedia encyclopedia: (Vol.1, pp. 394-395). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Pearson, D. W. (2012). Cowboys of color: The perceived social and cultural significance of U2 Rodeo. In J. L. Conyers Jr. (Series Ed.), Africana studies: Vol. 4. African American consciousness: Past and present (pp. 63-76). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.

Pearson, D. W. (2010). Absence of power: Sheroes in sport films post-Title IX. In L. K. Fuller (Ed.), Sports, rhetoric, and gender: Global and universal contexts (pp. 233-247). New York: Peter Lang.

Pearson, D. W. (2009). Black in the saddle: The best bull rider you never saw. In J. L. Conyers Jr. (Series Ed.), Africana studies: Vol. 3. Racial structure & radical politics in the African diaspora (pp. 183-196). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.

Pearson, D. W. (2008). Sport in contemporary society. In K. C. Longest (Ed.), Teaching the sociology of sport: ASA resource materials for teaching (5th ed., pp. 79-81). Washington, DC: American Sociological Association.

Pearson, D. W. (2007, March). A legacy denied: Shadow riders of the American West. Minority Executive Report, 2(3), 2.

Pearson, D. W. (2004). Shadow riders of the subterranean circuit: A descriptive account of Black rodeo in the Texas Gulf Coast region. The Journal of American Culture, 27(2), 190-198.

Pearson, D. W., Curtis, R. L., Haney, C. A., & Zhang J. J. (2003). Sport films: Social dimensions over time 1930-1995. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 27(2), 145-161.

Pearson, D. W., Haney, C. A., Curtis, R. L., & Zhang, J. J. (2001). Social change and sport films: Shifts in content across cultural eras 1930-1998. International Sports Journal, 5(2), 136-152.

Pearson, D. W. (2001). The depiction and characterization of women in sport films. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 10(1), 103-124.

Pearson, D. W., & Haney, C. A. (1999). The rodeo cowboy as an American icon: The perceived social and cultural significance. Journal of American Culture, 22(4), 17-21. *Published Spring 2001.

Pearson, D. W., & Haney, C. A. (1999). The rodeo cowboy: Cultural icon, athlete or entrepreneur? Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 23, 308-327.

Wall, K. A., Zhang, J. J., Pearson, D. W., Martin, J. W., & Meyers, M. C. (1999). Youth preference of city park and recreation physical activities. International Sports Journal, 3(1), 123-133.

Haney, C. A., & Pearson, D. W. (1999). Rodeo injuries: An examination of risk factors. Journal of Sport Behavior, 22, 443-466.

Fried, G. B., & Pearson, D. W. (1995). A primer on facility financing and defining some key terms. Sports Facility Law Reporter (Vol. 2, No. 1 & 2).

Education

B.A. in Physical Education at Lincoln University, 1975

M.A. in Education (College Student Development) at Case Western Reserve University, 1976

Ed.D. in Physical Education at University of Houston, 1990