WHITE CULTURAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA: A PERSONAL NARRATIVE

Abstract

In this narrative, I trace my history as a Pentecostal Afrikaner through South Africa’s stormy transition to democracy in 1994. I reflect on my experiences through the lens of Sue and Sue’s (2013) seven-stage model of White Cultural Identity Development and the impact of the dissonant treatment that two leaders received from my church, the Apostolic Faith Mission. Both G.R. Wessels and Frank Chikane pursued socio-political objectives while they were ordained pastors. One was white and hailed as a model of ministry excellence. The other was black and delivered to security police only to be tortured as a subversive activist. These experiences propelled me through Sue and Sue’s stages toward a commitment to antiracist action (stage 7) and a keen awareness that Pentecostals are not immune to cultural programming that may quench the Spirit.