In Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use," the character of Mama struggles with the conflicting desires to preserve her African American heritage and to ensure that her children live comfortable, modern lives. At the heart of this conflict is the question of how best to "use" the objects and traditions that represent her heritage.
Mama's older daughter, Dee, represents the modern, urban African American who seeks to reject traditional ways in favor of a more mainstream, assimilated lifestyle. Dee is described as being "light-skinned, with nice hair" and wearing "earrings of dyed blue plastic" and "a dress of the sort that is printed with a hundred little pictures of Egypt." These details suggest that Dee is trying to adopt a more cosmopolitan, exoticized image of African culture, rather than embracing the authentic traditions of her ancestors.
In contrast, Mama's younger daughter, Maggie, is described as being "dark as a forest" and "ashamed of the burn scars that mark her face and arms." Mama believes that Maggie, who has lived a more isolated, rural life, is more connected to their heritage and has a deeper appreciation for the objects and traditions that represent it.
The central conflict in the story revolves around the fate of a quilt that Mama has made from scraps of fabric that have been passed down through her family for generations. Dee, who has recently changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, wants to take the quilt and display it as a decorative object, insisting that it has "more education than [Mama] has." Mama initially resists Dee's request, recognizing that the quilt is more than just a decorative object – it is a tangible connection to her family's history and a symbol of their resilience and strength.
However, Mama ultimately decides to give the quilt to Maggie, recognizing that she will value it for its sentimental and cultural significance, rather than simply using it as a decorative object. In doing so, Mama asserts her own authority and autonomy as a woman and a member of the African American community, choosing to preserve and pass on the traditions of her ancestors rather than allowing them to be appropriated and commodified by others.
In conclusion, "Everyday Use" raises important questions about the ways in which we use and value the objects and traditions that represent our heritage. It suggests that it is important to recognize and respect the cultural significance of these things, rather than simply using them as superficial symbols of identity or as decorative objects. Ultimately, Mama's decision to give the quilt to Maggie is a powerful statement about the importance of preserving and passing on the traditions of her ancestors, rather than allowing them to be lost or appropriated by others.
