Shaonta's research draws on race, social movements, and intersectionality literatures to examine how Black resistance to racial inequality varies across social institutions. She specifically explores Black political ideologies and behaviors within Religion, Higher Education, and Pop-Culture & Sport to theorize contemporary strategies for navigating racial and gendered hierarchies. Supporting the discpline of sociology's efforts to reclaim the contributions of marginalized and erased scholars, Dr. Shay also writes about the theoretical, methodological, and epistemological legacy of Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Believing in the radical potential of sociology, Shay teaches and produces research with the goal of facilitating social change.
Sociology
Allen, Shaonta' E. 2023. "Is the Black Church Dead? Religious Resilience and the Contemporary Functions of Black Christianity." Religions
Allen, Shaonta'. 2023. "From "We Shall Overcome" to "We Gon Be Alright:" Assessing Black Liberation Movements Through Music." In Theology & Protest Music, edited by Jonathan Harwell and Heidi Altman.
Allen, Shaonta'. 2023. "Book Review: Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells." Humanity & Society.
Allen, Shaonta' and Maretta McDonald. 2023. "Multimedia Review: Women of the Movement, Season 1." Humanity & Society.
Allen, Shaonta' E. ""I Can't Tell You What Freedom is 'Cause I've Never Seen It:" Addressing the Omission of Liberation Narratives in Sociology." (R&R)
Allen, Shaonta' E. "Kneeling With Kaepernick: Celebrity Influence and Frame Diffusion in Youth Activism During Black Lives Matter." (R&R)
Allen, Shaonta' E. "Black and Christian During Black Lives Matter: Strategic Identity Construction Among Black Christian Millennials." (In Preparation)
Allen, Shaonta' E. "Performing and Policing Woke Politics: Oppositional Consciousness in the Black Lives Matter Era." (In Preparation)
Allen, Shaonta' and Letisha E. C. Brown. 2021. "The Audacity of the Black Athlete: How Naomi Osaka's French Open Protest Exposed Anti-Blackness, Racial Capitalism & Misogynoir in Professional Sports." The Society Pages: Engaging Sports Blog.
Allen, Shaonta'. 2020. "Perspectives of Neighborhood Change Case Studies." National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Research Campaign.
Allen, Shaonta'. 2018. "Colin Kaepernick, Black Resistance & Institutionalized Racism in the NFL." The Official Blog of the North Central Sociological Association.
Allen, Shaonta'. 2016. "Reconciling Black Faith with Black Freedom." The Griot: The Newsletter for the Association of Black Sociologists.