Lost Heritage

Lost Heritage

In Alice Walker, short story, “Everyday Use,” the power of family, heritage, and culture are presented. The story is about a hardworking mother of two daughters, Maggie and Dee. The mother does not have much in her life, but she cherishes what is of importance in her life. A humble house and two daughters have brought this woman happiness. The Johnson’s live rather poorly and they are relatively uneducated. Mrs. Johnson and Maggie, her shy younger child, are awaiting a visit from the older daughter Dee, who has been away to college and now lives in the city. Dee’s is struggling to create an identity for herself and has chosen to embrace African tradition by changing her name.

The mother feels that Dee changed her name without understanding the reasoning behind it. Dee's name was actually passed down from her great-grandmother, giving it true meaning. We now know that while “Dee” may not be an African name, it is a familial, ancestral name, an African-American one that is personally connected to Dee. “Wangero”, although African, is not directly related to her culture or personal heritage. Culture and heritage are taught and passed down from one generation to the next and are intended to live in everyday use. They are not things to be acquired and displayed

Dee has always been scornful of her family’s way of life, of their house, and their possessions. But upon her arrival at home, she seems charmed, almost infatuated by it. She photographs the house, her mother and sister, even a cow that wanders by. She zestfully eats a traditional meal of chitlins, corn bread, greens and sweet potatoes. She admires a bench her father had made. She asks for and receives a butter churn and dasher that had been hand whittled by her uncles years before and which she intends to use as a centerpiece for her alcove table.

Dee discovers two handmade quilts that had been pieced by her Grandma Dee and quilted by her mother and Big Dee. They were made from scraps of her grandparents clothing, old dresses and shirts, even a civil war uniform, and all sewn by hand. She had been offered these quilts before she went away to college but refused them because she thought that they were old fashioned and out of style. When Mrs. Johnson informs Dee that she has promised to give the quilts to Maggie when she gets married. Dee gets horrified and quickly grasps hold to the quilts. Dee feels that Maggie will not appreciate the quilts by putting them to everyday use.

When Mrs. Johnson asks Dee what would she do with them, she replies “Hang them.” The mother cannot understand why Dee wants to display the quilts that are used on a daily basis. The quilts are shown appreciation by being put to good use. The mother feels they are worthy enough to be given to Maggie as a wedding present. Dee wants to take the quilts home for all the wrong reasons. Although the mother does not have much, she is in complete control