Racial Lifemap Activity
James S. Hart III MSW, LSW
The Racial Lifemap Activity was inspired by Dr. David Hodge’s (2015a, 2015b) concept of a spiritual lifemap, which is a pictorial that is drawn or created with images that details the life events and transitions of one’s spiritual journey. The Racial Lifemap Activity was implemented during my clinical work with Black-White couples to foster a dialogue around race, racism, and discrimination to increase compassion and decrease defensiveness.
The Racial Lifemap Activity requires each spouse to construct a pictorial detailing the life events and transitions that have shaped their racial awareness and identity. The questions below serve as a guide in the creation of a racial lifemap:
1. What is your earliest memory of becoming racially aware?
2. Which experiences have shaped your racial awareness and/or identity?
3. How have you been discriminated against because of your race?
4. How have you benefitted because of your race?
5. What did your parents, family, friends, society teach you about your racial identity?
6. What did your parents, family, friends, society teach you about other racial groups?
The Racial Lifemap Activity allows each spouse to reflect upon the development of their racial identity and how it has shaped their current beliefs, expectations, and behaviors. The activity assists spouses to compare their sense of racial awareness with their partner, creating the space for understanding, learning, and support. It is helpful to consider how our lived experience differs from our spouse so that we are not dismissive of their viewpoint or claim they are overly sensitive or grossly naïve.
For each racial lifemap to be accurate and thorough I often give couples at least one to two weeks to complete it before we review them within a marital therapy session. I do not recommend attempting to complete a racial lifemap during a counseling session.
It is also beneficial to see an example of a racial lifemap before completing your own. Below you will find examples of racial lifemaps.
Jack’s Racial Lifemap:
Jack grew up in a predominately white community and attended almost exclusively white public schools. In college, he develops friendship with a diverse group of classmates but mostly associates with other white students. It’s not until after graduation, in his early twenties, that he moves to South Carolina. There he worked in an industry that served mostly people of color and he recognizes his implicit bias and ignorance of racial inequalities. He eventually moved back to NJ, meets Diane, and subsequently begins their romantic relationship.
Diane’s Racial Lifemap:
Diane grew up in a diverse community and remembers being called the n-word by her classmates as early as elementary school. She was denied access to advanced courses in middle school due to racism among the faculty. In High School she was not welcomed by her white peers in the honors courses and was called a sell-out by other students of color. In college she had great diverse friendships, but she still experienced microaggressions from the professors. She eventually moved back to NJ, joined a multicultural church, meets Jack, and their relationship begins.