Everyday Use By: Alice Walker

I found this story by Alice Walker very uplifting. I believe it is a story which shines a light on societies misconstrued ideas on what heritage and culture truly is. In Dee's character, she is described as a very prude person, who thinks of herself higher than her sisters. She is pretty, more educated, and lighter than them. She has no true interest in her background until she comes back to visit her family after graduating from college. Here she is portrayed as"enlightened", perhaps more enlightened than her family on their heritage, a family she has somewhat forgotten about while she was away. Changing her name to Wangero, a prized African name, she comes off as a real changed woman. But her fraudulent and masquerade of her african pride is what really stands out above her drastic style of dress and extravagant jewelry. She has no concrete idea of what being a strong colored woman really is, she also cannot identify with the true culture since she departed from it long ago, and now sees it as the "cool" thing to be. She is too tied up in her own image and resumes to validate it with her being educated. Knowing your heritage is understanding the hardships and accepting them, alongside with understanding the beautiful concepts which make your heritage. These are the fundamental things a person must know to truly love who they are, and be proud of it, these are not things that you can just simply learn from reading a book. I would recommend this prideful story to anyone. it is a great read from a strong author who knows what adversity is, and has conquered it in many admirable ways.