Everyday Use

I really, really liked this story. I thought it brought out some interesting points about the "Back to Africa" movement, and what it really means to respect your heritage.The story talks about how two girls represent two different ways of trying to honor African heritage. Dee seems to be doing it in more a display, museum-esque respect of her culture. Maggie is respecting her family by carrying on family traditions.

I was reading an article which talked about how Walker beleived that denying the slave and American parts of African-American culture were unreasonable and disrespectful. I think this can be seen with Dee's change of names. Dee wants an African name. She picks one which has no specific meaning to her, but culturally agrees with the "Back to Africa" movement. Her original name, she argues, was given to her by white people (generations back). However, the narrorator explains that Dee's name comes from her family, which carries more personal heritage for her.