Toni Cade Bambara's "The Lesson" and Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" explore the black empowerment movement of the 1970s. Although slavery was outlawed for over a hundred years, lack of education and economics proved to be the modern-day drag on African Americans. As college-educated African American women, Miss Moore and Walker's Dee de Bambara were pioneers of their time. These women are confident and defiant characters who use their education in an effort to reclaim their cultural identity and restore social and economic justice. “The Lesson” shows Miss Moore's progressive approach to Afro-centrism as an attempt to raise awareness and promote her race. This contrasts with Dee's narrow outlook in "Everyday Use", who uses this pride to distance herself from her humble beginnings. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Miss Moore and Dee's ideological beliefs are reflected in their physical appearance. In order to express their dissatisfaction with typical white Anglo-Saxon culture and fashions, African Americans begin to re-appropriate their African cultures to create their own identity. Dee and Miss Moore's lives in the 1970s place them in the Afro-centrist movement. Afrocentrism is the belief that the African American lineage dates back to ancient Egypt, which was dominated by a race of black Africans. This concept was developed as a psychological weapon against racism and oppression. As Sylvia describes Miss Moore in “The Lesson,” we imagine her “frizzy hair, proper speech, and no makeup” (61). Miss Moore's sense of style appears to be minimalist, similar to that of her ancestors. In “Everyday Use,” Miss Johnson describes Dee's new look upon returning from college: “…a dress so garish it hurt my eyes. There are enough yellows and oranges to reflect the sunlight” (791). Dee's new fashion sense seems to resemble native African clothing, with a dress with a flowing cut and eccentric colors. Dee also made shoulder-length earrings and several bracelets unusual for her time. Dee's hair is described by her mother as resembling "...the wool of a sheep" (791). Dee and Miss Moore wear similar hair and dress, allowing them to distance themselves from historically oppressive white culture. Miss Moore and Dee attend college, a rare accomplishment for women of their time. especially for minority women. In "Everyday Use", Dee is given the opportunity to pursue a higher education thanks to her mother's perseverance and donations from the church and community. With the help of her family and community, Dee is able to escape the restrictive environment of the rural South. Although little is known about Miss Moore's education in "The Lesson"; presumably she grew up in a different type of restrictive environment, a poverty-stricken urban environment. Miss Moore eventually returns to this place to help her youth. Sylvia, one of Miss Moore's pupils, said: "She had been to university and said that it was normal for her to take responsibility for the education of young people, and that she didn't even have a relationship or blood relationship” (61). Bambara uses Miss Moore to demonstrate how selfless leaders of the empowerment movement used their education to bring about change. Although unpopular, in “Everyday Use” Dee spends time educating her mother and sister: “She read to us mercilessly; Weimpose words, lies, the habits of others, entire lives…” (790). Dee knows that her mother and sister lack education and shares her gift of intelligence with them. In fact, Dee's friendships evolve from those she reads to. His friends “… loved the well-turned phrase, the cute form, the searing humor that burst like bubbles in laundry detergent” (791). Dee's eloquence extends beyond her family as she reads to anyone who will listen. Dee's outspoken personality and Miss Moore's desire to educate young people are important in spreading new values ​​of black pride and empowerment. Miss Moore and Dee are prolific entities for the advancement of their race; however, they give off different messages. In “The Lesson,” Miss Moore’s message revolves around money and its unequal distribution in America. She takes her group of students to a high-end toy store to show the kids that some people spend absurd amounts of money on superficial gifts. This money is necessary for children's families for the essential things of life. Sylvia explains, “She’s still waiting for someone to say that the poor need to wake up and demand their share of the pie” (65). His message is aimed at these disadvantaged young people in the hope that one day they will become successful people and be able to enjoy the "beautiful" things in life. Although slavery has been abolished for many decades, institutional factors still oppress the African American race. Miss Moore's efforts are aimed at freeing her people from these economic sanctions. In contrast, Dee's message in "Everyday Use" is not as clear because she is younger than Miss Moore and has not yet established her identity. Dee pushes for cultural change among her people and therefore enters into a generational conflict. In “Everyday Use,” Dee changes her name to Wangero, stating, “I could no longer stand being named after people who oppress me” (792). The name Dee dates back to her slave ancestors and she wants to rid herself of that association. Dee then returns home with a newly acquired respect for her origins. However, his behavior presents his family's life as an artifact rather than an acceptable way of life. This keeps him away from them. Dee turns to her sister Maggie and says, "You should try to make something of yourself too, Maggie." It's really a new day for us. But the way you and Mom still live, you’d never know” (795). Dee pushes her sister to follow her nonconforming lifestyle, but inadvertently offends her family's simple, content lifestyle. Although Dee has sincere intentions for the betterment of her race, her behavior can be seen as ignorant and offensive to older generations of African Americans. Dee wants the quilts and the butter churn to be artifacts of the older generation of her race. In doing so, she turns her back on her mother and sister who still live in a time she has forgotten. Dee gasps, “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!” […] She would probably be backward enough to use them on a daily basis” (794). Dee wants quilts and other antiques to highlight her family's past lifestyle and ignores the fact that they still live in the present. Dee's conflict with older African American generations can be seen as an obstacle to the black empowerment movement. In "The Lesson", Miss Moore has a more structured approach to black empowerment and seems to have a deeper understanding of the issues. She realizes that her race has many obstacles to overcome without adding the generational tensions caused by Dee's tactics. Miss Moore..