"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker is a short story about a mother and two very different daughters set in rural Georgia in the late 1960s. The plot centers on the two girls, Dee and Maggie, and focuses about the differences between the two and who will take possession of two handmade quilts that are considered a coveted trophy by Dee and are considered everyday objects by Maggie. The final decision as to which girl ultimately receives the quilts will be made by Momma Johnson. Momma, who is never given a first name in the story, is a strong black woman with many masculine qualities. “In real life, I'm a tall, muscular woman with rough, hardworking hands. In the winter, I wear flannel nightgowns to bed and overalls during the day. (DiYanni 744) Mom is a tough woman and had to be both father and mother to the girls although the story never comments on the father's absence. The story revolves around a home visit from Dee who was in college and recently discovered the true meaning of black heritage by adopting the ideas and practices of black power groups while simultaneously rejecting her own upbringing . Upon arriving home, Dee announces that she has changed her name to "Wangero" in defiance of her white oppressors and to embrace her new African heritage with a more appropriate black name. Dee and Maggie are complete opposites in terms of appearance, upbringing, and desire to escape their childhood environments. Maggie has little education and no notable desire to improve her situation and prefers to stay alone in the shadows where she can hide her physical and emotional scars caused by her house burning down when she was a child. Hand-sewn quilts become the object of Dee's desires; objects... middle of paper...... a tough role model as a mother, could easily hold her own against a sassy girl like Dee if confronted. Walker chose Maggie to remain a doormat to Dee's antics, which raises the question of whether or not she believes that African Americans in today's society should remain subject to a more African heritage. traditional or build on the heritage that they and their ancestors created for themselves. in this country. I believe Walker's message is that a person's legacy comes more from the ties that bind generations together than from a certain region, culture or country. Works Cited Cowart, David. “Inheritance and uprootedness in Walker’s “everyday use.” Studies in Short Fiction 33 (1996): 174-184. DiYanni, Robert. “Literature, reading fiction, poetry and theater.” Walker, Alice. Daily use. Boston: McGraw Hill, 1973. 743-749.