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What Is Heritage

            
             In "Everyday Use," the theme revolves around presence of heritage. Dee wants to take on the heritage of African decent. But her mother and Maggie realize that the real heritage lies in the everyday traditions that they practice. They use many things in the story as a part of their everyday traditions. The churn top, dasher, and quilts all are symbolically linked to the heritage of this family. Heritage is a tradition. Something passed down from generations that come before. A person determines their heritage by the traditions they learn from their parents and other elders. You cannot claim a heritage in which was not brought down to you through your family.
             Dee came home with a new name. Dee states her name has changed saying, "No mama, not Dee. Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo."(175) She takes a new African name. She is beginning to claim the heritage of an African from Africa. In leaving her home she has forgotten her family traditions and now takes an African one. She comes back to her mother's house with all these ideas of being a culture before her time. Her name change is a symbol of her giving up her traditions of an African American for one of a Native African. In taking this new name she is denying the heritage she was brought up on and claiming another she was not taught.
             Dee also sees things in her mother's house and wants them for artistic decoration. One thing Dee was taking was the churn top. Dee asks her mother "Didn't Uncle Buddy whittle is out of a tree you all used to have?"(177) This was something that a family member made by hand. Dee wanted it for decoration to show her heritage. In wanting it she did not realize the value of it. Her mother and sister use this top in everyday use. They need it to make their butter. .
             Bacchus 2.
             Dee wanted it because she thought it would make a nice centerpiece for her table. She was trying to get things to remind her of a heritage she didn't even have.


Essays Related to What Is Heritage

1. Tourism

"Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. ... Heritage plays a role in everybody's life. ... Since heritage is seen as a value in itself, heritage artefacts are suitable for collection, preservation and presentation. ... Heritage Tourism Heritage tourism can be defined as "tourism which is based on heritage, where heritage is the core of the product that is offered, and heritage is the main motivating factor for the consumer" (Swarbrooke 1994:222). ... The supply of heritage tourism products available has increased dramati...

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2. Traditional and Contemporary Heritage

But what happens when certain traditions are lost or construed? Does the existence of that heritage just slowly die out? ... Dee uses this term to convey to her mother that their culture is just merely a fabrication of what the "white man" believes they should go by. ... Dee may be correct to some aspect about the heritage of true Africans but the traditions that she grew up with is what she should refer to. ... What Dee fails to realize is that even though she has good intentions for what she believes is her true heritage. ...

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3. Heritage in Everyday Use

Heritage is what is important to people, long remembered and part of who they are. ... Johnson and her two daughters had many things that were important to them, but heritage is what you are supposed to hold dear for many years, it is where you come from. ... Heritage was of no real value to her. ... She spoke to her mom with seriousness, yet she did not even realize what she was saying. Heritage was shown when Ms. ...

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4. What Is A Grandmother?

What is a Grandmother? ... Although I feel this definition of a mother is understated, it does begin to give some understanding of what a grandmother may be. ... If Merriam-Webster, Oxford, and American Heritage would have asked, I could have overnight expressed them a more authentic, realistic meaning of a grandmother before their last printing. ... She shows you that family and friends are what matters in life, and to never watch people go without when you have plenty, even if that means giving them your last one. ...

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5. Research Paper - Heritage in Everyday Use

Dee's artificial passion to express her heritage is apparent to her mother immediately as Dee wears the trendy African style. ... Perhaps as Dee cannot see the truth of their heritage, Maggie for the first time sees all too clearly. ... The heritage show in the quilts is what will keep the family warm and secure and will be a constant reminder of who they are and where they came from. ... Cowart adds that "[Dee] rightly recognizes the quilts as part of a fragile heritage, but she fails to see the extent to which she herself has traduced that heritage" (172). ... From the first...

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6. Everyday Use

Walker uses the characters of Maggie and Mama and their relationship to portray what true heritage is. ... It is the appreciation that Mama and Maggie have for these items and their willingness to include them in their present lives that shows their heritage The character of Dee represents the people who lose touch with their culture and heritage and instead associate heritage with material things. ... "What don't I understand?" ... "Your heritage,"[Dee replies],"(363). ... Heritage is not tangible and cannot be bought. ...

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7. Heritage or Hate- Everyday Use Analysis

Dee was ashamed of her family and their heritage, self-absorbed, and greedy. ... It seems as if after she becomes educated, she realizes what her heritage really meant. Dee comes home for a visit and suddenly realizes what she missed, but for the wrong reasons. ... Although most adults do not realize it, their heritage is what makes them who they are. In "Everyday Use", Alice Walker tries to define to us what a person's heritage can really mean. ...

  • Word Count: 610
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8. African-American Heritage in Everyday Use

Mama, Dee, and Maggie each have their own views on how they perceive and appreciate their heritage. ... It gives a sense of realism and allows readers to be more cognizant of what's going on and in some way may relate. ... At this point Mama shows integrity, finally making a stand for her history and heritage. ... Education is what sets her apart from her mother and sister. ... When Mama asks, "What happened to Dee?...

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9. What Is An American?

What is an American? ... What really makes an American is the fact that they have heritage from other countries, but live here amongst other people with other separate backgrounds. ... One could literally visit Paris and see what our clothing will resemble in a decade. ... I personally do not know my heritage very well. I do know that around 1/32nd of my background is Native-American, meaning almost my entire heritage is from elsewhere. ...

  • Word Count: 753
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