In "The Inheritance of Values" written by Pauli Murray, she discusses how each family member had a part in making her who she is today. Each family member had to work extremely hard to be able to survive in society. In order to survive, Pauli's grandparents, always instilled work ethics that would get them far in life. At one point of the story the grandfather wrote a letter to Pauli's Aunt Maria stating that she needed to find a way to make living in Philadelphia work. She had moved to Philadelphia to become a dressmaker after she finished her work at Hampton. Their grandfather wanted his children and grandchildren to mark their way in life like he had done. "You must not depend on sewing. I'd go into service. You can get $12 to $15 per month and stick to work for two months without taking up your money, and you can come home independent" (Murray, 500). These values helped Pauli throughout her life as she received her degree to become a lawyer, poet, and rights activist. Pauli Murray became the person she is today because of her family's work ethics and her drive to succeed in life.
In the story, The Inheritance of Tools, by Scott Randall Sanders, the most noticeable trait he inherits that later shapes who he is, is personality. Sander later goes on how to explain how the tools he uses to this day, represents the hard work of his ancestors. "The grain in hickory is crooked and knotty, and therefore tough, hard to split, like grain in the two men who owned the hammer before me" (Sanders, 504). Sanders is able to see the character traits of his ancestors in this simple wooden tool handle, the same traits that he himself has inherited. Sander also explains the use of the "try square for making right angles" (Sanders, 507), and his dad's explanation for its purpose. "If you're going to cut a piece of woodyou owe it to the tree to cut it straight" (Sanders, 507).