Heritage and Identity in Alice Walker’s Everyday Use

Alice Walker's story "Everyday Use" dives into what heritage and identity mean for an African American family. It’s set in the rural South, seen through Mama's eyes, who's a hardworking woman. She's got two daughters, Dee and Maggie, and their different takes on family treasures really paint a picture of how cultural identity can be viewed. The way they interact with each other and their heritage shows us that connecting with your roots is about more than just looks or fancy displays.

Heritage and Identity in Alice Walker's "Everyday Use"

To get what "Everyday Use" is really about, you gotta look at the characters. Mama, who tells the story, keeps it real with her down-to-earth view on heritage. Her life showcases the day-to-day grind and wins of African American women in the South. She’s super connected to her past through the things she uses daily—they’re full of personal and family history.

Then there’s Dee. She left home for school and a new lifestyle, which kinda makes her connection to her roots seem distant, maybe even shallow. Dee wants stuff like quilts and a churn top not for use but to put on display; she treats culture like something you can own or show off. She changes her name to Wangero and adopts African clothes and customs, trying to find what she thinks is her true identity. But really, it seems she's kinda lost touch with where she came from.

On the flip side, Maggie has this deep connection with her heritage. She’s been through a lot—a house fire left scars—but she knows her cultural legacy closely and practically. Taught by her grandma and aunt, Maggie learned quilting skills that keep traditions alive in the family. She sees heritage as something living—not just stuff to look at or hang on a wall—and uses those quilts every day, respecting tradition while keeping it functional. This contrast between Maggie and Dee captures the main conflict: seeing heritage as an evolving part of life versus an abstract thing to collect.

Walker uses symbolism to drive home these themes. The quilts are a big deal; they’re pieced together from clothing worn by ancestors, linking past generations to the present. When Dee wants them just for decoration but Mama decides they go to Maggie for everyday use—it’s clear Mama believes in a heritage that's part of daily life. Same goes for that butter churn; Dee sees it as art, but for Mama and Maggie, it’s about keeping its original purpose alive.

Conclusion

"Everyday Use" digs deep into what keeping up with your cultural roots really means, showing how families can clash over how best to appreciate their legacy. Through Mama, Dee, and Maggie’s differences, Walker stresses that genuine respect for your roots comes from weaving them into daily life—keeping traditions alive rather than reducing them to mere objects or symbols. The story reminds us that preserving our culture should stay true to its real meaning—not just dressed up as something pretty or valuable.

References

• Walker, A. (1973). Everyday Use: For Your Grandmama In Love & Trouble: Stories of Black Women.
• Kelley Griffith Jr., Writing Essays about Literature (9th ed.), Cengage Learning.
• Morris Dickstein (1991), A Mirror in the Roadway: Literature and Realism in the Twentieth Century.
• Nellie McKay (1998), Critical Essays on Alice Walker.