The cultural autobiography is to be a narrative that explains your self-awareness concerning your racial and ethnic heritage and how that relates to the churches you have attended.

How and when did you consciously use the concepts and/or language of a culture to identify yourself? You can use phases of life (childhood, adolescence, adulthood) or events or people or other markers to tell your story. This is to be a combination of story and reflection – a sequence of experiences and thoughts. If your Christian faith has been part of the story (in defining how you understood your culture, how you were shaped) then include it. Also, if you have experienced significant boundary-crossing, or if you were aware of being “different,” note those experiences and reflect on how they shape you. You do not need to provide any “closure” – rather you may want to summarize what you appreciate, what you struggle with, and what questions you have.

Note how your culture makes you more accessible to the gospel and how it creates barriers. Also, include reflections on your current strengths and the competencies you plan to develop to lead in intercultural settings. Note your historical background, transitions in understanding and practices concerning race/culture, and the interaction of faith, identity, churches you have attended, and worldview. Note any changes you’ve experienced along your journey.

Expectations

• As this is not a classic research paper, we do not expect direct quotes. You may, however, wish to cite works that highlight factors you have identified as formative in your cultural development. While you will not be deducted for not doing this, you will probably receive favorable grading if you do, as it shows integration and deeper processing of the course material.
• If you come from a situation where you were adopted by a family not of your cultural/racial heritage, or some other situation of displacement, you are to focus on those cultural influences that actually shaped you. So your family, adopted family, foster care, etc. everyone has been shaped by a culture or multiple cultural influences. Your task is to identify those influences and the effects they have had on you personally, how you interact with racial/cultural others, etc.
• Though not required, some of you may find it helpful to interview your parents or grandparents if they are still alive and were formative in your upbringing to explore what values were/are important to them. This may help you to uncover some themes that you were not otherwise aware of.