Mon+1-30

How do we uncover culture within ourselves? How do we see the biases we hold? How do we come to see ourselves and others differently?


 * BEFORE class: **

 Skim all of these articles, but choose one to read in depth and model your autohistory after the style:

1.) If you read Superman and Me, also visit Sherman's Alexie [|website].



2.) If you read How to Tame a Wild Tongue, also visit this [|site] to read a short biography.

3.) If you read A Question of Class, also read the first two pages of the introduction to Trash on google books.

media type="custom" key="12238534"

[|A Question of Class by Dorothy Allison]


 * During Class: **


 * 1.) Finish Precious Knowledge**


 * 2.) Unpack the autohistories.**

Group yourselves according to what you read. Then share a quote that you loved. Share a quote that you didn't understand. Share a quote you didn't agree with. Compare the story to your own life.

In what ways do these writers reflect on their past? How is this helpful to others? How might you use writings like these in your classroom?

A reminder about the assignment that is due on 2/1!

For all educators self-reflection is vital. By examining our attitudes, beliefs, and cultural values and behaviors, we can discover what has influenced our value systems. Each student will produce a cultural autohistory (3-5 pages) that describes and analyzes how you came to be who you are at this point in your life and what contributes to how you view your culture. You will identify salient characteristics in your life, which may include your gender, ethnicity, race, religion, etc. You may also choose to discuss particular people in your life, or an event, which symbolically reflects your cultural identity. The key for this paper is //depth// rather than //breadth//. I encourage you to focus on key details, a singular event, or aspect instead of just creating a biography or timeline. Also, include at least three good references from our readings up to this point. We will share several of these each class after the due date. Some suggestions and guiding questions: Consider the following:
 * Cultural Autohistory (Anzaldúa, 1987) 15%**
 * Multimedia is acceptable.
 * Incorporate song, poetry, or another other visual art in or with your narrative (they do not count toward your page requirement)
 * Cultural artifacts accompanied by narration/text are acceptable
 * Analyze current events relating to language, race, culture, etc. and consider how these reflect your own experiences growing up (for example, can you connect to the experience of immigrants facing deportation in Georgia because of new legislation?)
 * How do you connect or disconnect to American values of individualism, competition, hard work, self-reliance?
 * What was the knowledge environment like in your home? What type of reading was done in the home by parents and others?
 * What is your best memory from elementary school? How would you describe your favorite teacher?
 * Was your school experience ethnically and racially diverse?
 * What is you ethnic group? What symbols or traditions do you participate in that derive from this group? What do they mean to you? How do they fit into or clash with dominant cultural traditions around you?
 * Describe a time when you felt extremely proud of your ethnic heritage. A time when you felt particularly ashamed.
 * What has been your experience with ethnic diversity? What are some of your earliest images and experiences with race and skin color? Has there been a time in your life when you sought out diverse contacts to expand your experience and understanding of the world?
 * What contact do you have now with people of dissimilar racial or ethnic backgrounds? How would you characterize you desire to learn more? What are your plans for making this happen?