RUNNING HEAD: CULTURAL BIOGRAPHY

Cultural Biography Shaw tia !illia"# G$orgia Stat$ U i%$r#ity: S!&'''

CULTURAL BIOGRAPHY A)#tra*t

Thi# pap$r will $+plor$ "y *ultural )iography, A *ultural )iography loo-# at th$ $ %iro "$ tal i .lu$ *$# a / or $+p$ri$ *$# that ha%$ #hap$/ a i /i%i/ual i to who th$y ar$ a / how th$y ar$, Thi# pap$r will al#o /$.i $ "y /il$""a# with A"$ri*a i0atio , I t$r al a / $+t$r al trait# that h$lp /$.i $ ar$ al#o topi* that will )$ *o%$r$/,

CULTURAL BIOGRAPHY Introduction

&

A *ultural )iography $+plor$# th$ $ %iro "$ tal i .lu$ *$# a / or $+p$ri$ *$# that ha%$ #hap$/ a i /i%i/ual i to who th$y ar$ a / how th$y ar$, A**or/i g to our t$+t)oo- )$i g *ulturally *o"p$t$ t i# )a#$/ o - owl$/g$ o)tai $/ o /$"ographi*#1 th$ori$# a / group i##u$#, Thi# will )roa/$ a #o*ial wor-$r# u /$r#ta /i g a / i t$ra*tio # with /i%$r#$ *li$ t#, I/$ tity i# a r$.l$*tio o. a p$r#o 2# *ultur$ alo g with th$ir i /i%i/uality, I thi# pap$r I will /i#*u## .a*tor# o. "y li.$ that ha%$ i .lu$ *$/ "$ a# w$ll a# #hap$/ "$ i to th$ wo"$ I a" to/ay, Positionality Multiple Identities 3y *hil/hoo/ i# a i"porta t p$rio/ o. "y li.$ whi*h ha/ a "a4or i"pa*t o "$ lat$r i li.$, Th$ lo%i g "$"ori$# a / ti"$ #p$ t with "y "oth$r1 gra /"oth$r1 a / #o"$ti"$# "y ol/$r #i#t$r ha%$ "ol/$/ "$ i to who I a", 3y "oth$r wa# "y .ir#t $/u*ator1 hair#tyli#t1 .ri$ /1 a / o%$rall rol$ "o/$l, Sh$ taught "$ a# w$ll a# #har$/ h$r )$li$.# r$gar/i g r$ligio 1 o%$rall %i$w# o li.$ a / h$r $+p$*tatio # o. "$, Du$ to "y "oth$r ha%i g a har/ wor- $thi* a / )$i g a #i gl$ par$ t a / ha%i g to rai#$ two *hil/r$ #h$ ha/ to wor- o.t$ , Al#o #i *$ #h$ wa# a*ti%$ i th$ U it$/ Stat$# "ilitary #h$ wa# r$5uir$/ to tra%$l a lot, Duri g thi# ti"$ I o.t$ #tay$/ with "y gra /"oth$r a / $%$ .ri$ /# to "a-$ #ur$ I /i/ 6t "i## #*hool, Stayi g with "y gra /"oth$r I wa# #how$r$/ with lo%$1 l$##o # a / h$r aw$#o"$ ho"$ *oo-i g, 3y #i#t$r a / I ar$ tw$l%$ y$ar# apart a / ha%$ a lo%$ hat$ r$latio #hip, I /o 6t 5uit$ u /$r#ta / our r$latio #hip or why it i# th$ way that i#, So"$ti"$# w$ g$t alo g )ut w$ /o 6t #p$a- .or p$rio/# o. ti"$ /u$ to h$r )$i g a /ra"a .ill$/ a / la*- r$#p$*t to oth$r# withi "y .a"ily, A $%$ t that ha# #tro gly i"pa*t$/ "y li.$ i# "y "igratio .ro" Bu..alo1 N$w Yor- to G$orgia, Th$ D$*$")$r a.t$r I gra/uat$/ high #*hool "y )$#t .ri$ / at th$ ti"$ a / I pa*-$/ up th$ *ar to )$gi our $w 4our $y to G$orgia, I ha/ o *lu$ a# to what G$orgia ha/ to o..$r $+*$pt .or "y apart"$ t a / that I ha/ o $ *ou#i that wa# *lo#$ i ag$ that li%$/ i G$orgia, I l$.t $%$rythi g I $%$r - $w "y .a"ily1 "y .ri$ /#1 a / "y $ %iro "$ t that - $w .or $ight$$ y$ar# o. "y li.$, Th$ r$a#o )$i g i# )$*au#$ I *o"$ .ro" a )a*-grou / o. #tro g wo"$ a / I alway# #ai/ growi g up I wa t$/ to )$ that #tro g #u**$##.ul wo"a li-$ "y "oth$r1 a / gra /"oth$r, B$i g i Bu..alo I wa# 6t goi g to grow up th$ way I $$/$/ or wa t$/ to "a-$ "$ i to th$ wo"a I wa t$/ to )$, I "u#t #ay it wa# har/ goi g .ro" o ly payi g a *$ll pho $ )ill to a whol$ apart"$ t .ull o. )ill#1 gro*$ri$#1 *ar ot$1 a / *ar i #ura *$, I wa# 6t a)l$ to 4u#t #p$ / "y pay*h$*- o *loth$# a / #ho$# li-$ I u#$/, Thi# $+p$ri$ *$ "a/$ "$ appr$*iat$ th$ thi g# I o *$ too- .or gra t$/, I /$%$lop$/ a #$ #$ o. r$#po #i)ility1 #$l. *o trol1 wor- $thi* a / a o%$rall $w outloo- o li.$, I6" ot #ur$ i. G$orgia i# "y .i al #top a# to wh$r$ I will li%$ i th$ .utur$ )ut I will #ay through th$ goo/ a / a# w$ll a# th$ )a/ ti"$# it ha# pr$par$/ a / "ol/$/ "$ .or th$ a/ult worl/, A oth$r $%$ t1 whi*h ha# #tro gly i"pa*t$/ "y li.$1 wa# wh$ "y "oth$r wa# /iag o#$/

CULTURAL BIOGRAPHY

with )r$a#t *a *$r, I wa# hurt )$*au#$ I *oul/ 6t u /$r#ta / why "y "oth$r, I wa# *o .u#$/ wo /$ri g what woul/ )$ th$ out*o"$, How will w$ g$t through thi#8 I wa# wat*hi g o $ o. th$ #tro g$#t i /$p$ /$ t wo"a )ro-$ /ow a / /$p$ /$ t o /o*tor# a / .a"ily to g$t h$r through thi# tryi g ti"$, 3y "oth$r .a*$/ a lot /i..$r$ t o)#ta*l$# i th$ pro*$## o. .ighti g a / )$ati g )r$a#t *a *$r, 9 owi g "y "o" wo th$ .ight "a/$ "$ op$ "y $y$# a / r$ali0$ how )l$##$/ I wa# to #till ha%$ "y "oth$r, Th$ thi g# I o *$ too- .or gra t$/ I *h$ri#h, I #t$a/ o. a##u"i g #h$ - ow# how "u*h I lo%$ h$r a / or how i"porta t #h$ i# to "$ I t$ll a / #how h$r how "u*h #h$ i# appr$*iat$/, Dilemmas of Americanization A"$ri*a i0atio i# *o .or"i g i to th$ A"$ri*a *ultur$, E%$ryo $ ha# th$ir ow i/$ tity )ut ot all i /i%i/ual# ar$ a**$pt$/ or thought o. a# A"$ri*a )$*au#$ th$y /o 6t *o .or" to th$ A"$ri*a way, !$ li%$ i th$ U it$/ Stat$# o. A"$ri*a1 a / w$ ha%$ appropriat$/ th$ a/4$*ti%$ :A"$ri*a ; $%$ though w$ *a *lai" o $+*lu#i%$ titl$ to it <!al0$r1 (''7=, Growi g up1 i a #u)ur)a $igh)orhoo/ att$ /i g a pr$/o"i a tly Cau*a#ia #*hool #y#t$" I /i/ 2t alway# gai .ull - owl$/g$ o. "y hi#tory a / or h$ritag$, I l$ar $/ a lot o. Europ$a hi#tory a / wh$ th$y tal-$/ a)out "y *ultur$ it2# u#ually a)out #la%$ry a / )la*hi#tory "o th, >uit$ a )it o. "y - owl$/g$ *a"$ .ro" r$a/i g a / #tu/yi g "y hi#tory at ho"$, I ha%$ ha/ )oth po#iti%$ a / $gati%$ $+p$ri$ *$# i thi# $ %iro "$ t, A $gati%$ $+p$ri$ *$ that I ha%$ 2t .orgott$ i# )$i g *all$/ a ra*ial #lur, 9 owi g that .$ar a / ig ora *$ ar$ at th$ )otto" o. ra*ial a tipathi$#1 th$y hol/ that th$#$ *a )$ "at$rially l$##$ $/ a / ulti"at$ly r$"o%$/ )y a##o*iatio 1 )ut o ly #harp$ $/ )y i#olatio <Dil$""a1 ('?(=, Thi# ha# #tr$ gth$ $/ "y tol$ra *$ o. a**$pti g that w$ ar$ ot all th$ #a"$, E%$ though I /o 2t agr$$ with th$ a*tio # o. oth$r# or th$ir %i$wpoi t# I a" a)l$ to a**$pt that #o"$ thi g# #t$" .ro" #o"$thi g /$$p$r, Family Culture I i/$ ti.y "y#$l. a# a [Link]*a A"$ri*a , I a" .ully A"$ri*a i0$/ /u$ to th$ la*- o. *o %$r#atio #1 *u#to"#1 a / or tra/itio # pa## /ow through th$ g$ $ratio # i "y .a"ily, I *o #i/$r "y r$gio al *ultur$ a# N$w Yor- a / #outh$r , Th$ r$a#o )$i g i# )$*au#$ I gr$w up i N$w Yor- a / th$ "o%$/ to G$orgia #o I .$$l that )oth *o tri)ut$ to "y i/$ tity, 3y .ri$ /# ar$ [Link]*a A"$ri*a a# w$ll, O a /aily )a#$# I i t$ra*t with "ultipl$ *ultur$# i "y wor$ %iro "$ t, Th$ /ay# I att$ / #*hool I al#o i t$ra*t with "ultipl$ *ultur$#, 3y $+p$ri$ *$# with oth$r *ultur$# ha%$ )$$ "i+$/ )oth po#iti%$ a / $gati%$, A $gati%$ $+p$ri$ *$ i# )$i g *all$/ a ra*ial #lur, A po#iti%$ $+p$ri$ *$ i# i t$ra*ti g l$ar i g i t$r$#ti g thi g# a)out oth$r i /i%i/ual#, I a" $+tr$"$ly i t$r$#t$/ i #tu/yi g "y *ultural .a"ily root#, I al#o wa t to *o ti u$ l$ar i g a)out oth$r $th i* a / *ultural hi#tory1 )$li$.# a / i t$ra*tio patt$r #, It woul/ al#o )$ gr$at to $+p$ri$ *$ wor-i g with "ulti*ultural *li$ t# i #o*ial #$r%i*$ ag$ *i$#, Cultural Awareness of other Inventory

CULTURAL BIOGRAPHY

Growi g up I wa# )or i Bu..alo N$w Yor- wh$r$ I wa# $%$ tually .or*$/ to "o%$ to a #u)ur)a $igh)orhoo/, I wa# gi%$ th$ opportu ity to att$ / a )$tt$r #*hool #y#t$" th$ oth$r# i "y .a"ily )ut right a.t$r#*hool I wa# i Bu..alo with "y *ou#i #1 gra /"oth$r a / oth$r .ri$ /#, Th$ $igh)orhoo/ *o #i#t# pr$/o"i at$ly o. Cau*a#ia #, A# w$ll # th$ #*hool #y#t$" I att$ /$/, I /i/ 2t ha%$ "a y Cau*a#ia .ri$ /# I r$ally o ly hu g out with th$ oth$r [Link]*a A"$ri*a #, I ha/ o $ .ri$ / that wa# )ira*ial Cau*a#ia a / I /ia , I r$ally wa# 2t $+po#$/ to a y oth$r ra*ial group# )$#i/$# Cau*a#ia a / [Link]*a A"$ri*a , I ha%$ a ha/ a a/%a tag$ Intersectionality I t$r#$*tio ality *o #i#t o. thr$$ .a*tor whi*h ar$ "ultipl$ group "$")$r#hip# a / i/$ titi$#1 i"pa*t o. th$#$ .a*tor# o our li%$#1 a / $a*h #o*ial group "$")$r#hip *a ot )$ )rought out .ro" oth$r# <Lu 1 ('??=, A $+t$r al trait that I *a i/$ ti.y "y#$l. with i# "arriag$, I thi thi# i# a $+t$r al trait )$*au#$ I w$ar a w$//i g ri g o a /aily )a#i#, Thi# #how# oth$r# that I a" a "arri$/ wo"a without ha%i g to a#- or a##u"$, A i t$r al trait that I *ho#$ to i/$ ti.y "y#$l. with i# $/u*atio , Th$ r$a#o )$i g i# )$*au#$ 4u#t )y loo-i g at "$ you woul/ ot - ow that I ha%$ two /$gr$$#, I ha%$ A##o*iat$# o. Appli$/ S*i$ *$ i *ri"i al 4u#ti*$ a / a A##o*iat$# o. Appli$/ S*i$ *$ i So*ial wor-, I a" *urr$ tly wor-i g to *o"pl$t$ "y Ba*h$lor2# /$gr$$ at G$orgia Stat$ U i%$r#ity, Conclusion A.t$r *o"pl$ti g thi# a##ig "$ t I r$ali0$/ th$ la*- o. - owl$/g$ I ha%$ a# it r$lat$# to "y *ultur$, Al#o1 that I a" #$l. awar$ o. th$ thi g# that ha%$ o**urr$/ i "y li.$ to h$lp "ol/ "$ i to who I a" to/ay, Thi# a##ig "$ t ha# #how "$ how $a#y it i# to *o .or" to *ultur$# a / *u#to"# wh$ you ar$ u *$rtai o. your ow , Cultural *o"p$t$ *y i# -$y .a*tor i all a#p$*t# o. our li.$, Th$ r$a#o )$i g i# )$*au#$ th$ way you p$r*$i%$ p$opl$ i# o.t$ ti"$# th$ way you r$a*t to th$" a / that i# ot alway# th$ prop$r way,

CULTURAL BIOGRAPHY

R$.$r$ *$ DILE33A OB THE A3ERICAN NEGRO, <('?(=, Black Scholar1 42<?=1 ?CD(&, !al0$r1 3, <(''7=, !hat Do$# It 3$a to B$ a EA"$ri*a E8, Social Research1 71<&=1 A&&DA@7,