Everyday Use is a story about a poor African American family during the Civil Rights Movement. The story is set in the rural south in the 1960's. It was a time when black people were still not treated as equals. Most southern blacks during this time were not well educated and did not play a big role in society. Everyday Use shows how the African American community began to think during the Civil Rights era. With the prominent black leaders during this time, blacks were able to have a different outlook on life. .
The story is of a woman named Dee. Dee has been ashamed of her life ever since she was little. She would hardly ever bring anyone to see how she lived. She was even happy when her house caught a blaze and burned to the ground. Even though she was so ashamed of where she came from her mother and the church paid for her to go to a nice school. Dee was a fortunate black woman, because most African Americans were not able to get a good education during these years. .
After a long while of Dee absence, she came home. For the first time in a while she brought someone with her. Dee was dressed real radically. It was nothing her family had ever really seen before. Dee greeted her family with, "Wa-su-zo-Tean-o!" Which is a greeting used by black Muslims. She then said, "Asalamalakim." Which is also a Muslim salutation meaning "Peace be with you." Dee reveals to her mom that she has also changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. She said, "I could no longer bear it any longer, being named after people who oppress me." This leads the reader to believe she has converted to a Muslim. .
There were two prominent black figures during this time; there was Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. During this time both of these men had a great following. They had two different views own civil rights. One was a Christian and the other was a Black Muslim. Dee was a follower of Malcolm X, who was a Black Muslim.