In America, many people can be classified as immigrants unless they have Native American blood, but recognizing one's heritage from a different country does not mean one has to give up the The story of being a citizen of the United States. Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use" examines the cultural revolution that occurred in the 1970s for African Americans and how one can accept their ethnic heritage without losing the family past. Walker represents both points of view with the way the two sisters are portrayed. Maggie is scarred, weak and defeated, but caring and gentle. Dee is strong-minded, beautiful, and portrayed as larger than life, but she is also demanding and arrogant. Although one is no better than the other, Maggie is more sympathetic towards their American heritage, while Dee wants to throw it away to embrace a different heritage. Walker writes from the mother's perspective to demonstrate her validation of the mother's choice to whom she passes the quilts. Dee (Wangero) is an embodiment of the Cultural Revolution that was taking place in the 70s; she always seems to be more “learned than her mother and sister, and on several occasions “rejects them at the very moment, like fools, [they] seem on the verge of understanding” (812). Knowing this, the audience understands why she said this to her mother: "Maggie can't appreciate these quilts!" » she said. “She would probably be backward enough to use them on a daily basis.” . . “Maggie would put them on the bed and in five years they would be in rags. Less than that’” (815). This scene is a display of disregard for the true purpose of quilts and what they represent. Quilts are America's part of African American heritage, because slave...... middle of paper ......t to change her name, then she is not entitled to quilts. Alice Walker wrote the mother as storyteller because she is faced with this decision, and the mother's choice is one that Alice Walker would have chosen. “Everyday Use” is a story about what heritage is and what it really means. This story presents a conflict between embracing ethnic heritage or honoring your family's past. Dee embraces African culture, but at the cost of abandoning her past; Maggie stays in her family's past because she may find her ethnicity too overwhelming for her. Walker makes his point by juxtaposing Maggie with Dee, so the story presents both points of view equally, but uses the mother to express his opinion. CityWalker, Alice. “Daily use.” The art of the short story. Ed. Dana Gioia and RS Gwynn. New York: Pearson Longman, 2006. 810 - 816. Print.