In Everyday Use economic problems are abound in how Walker forms her characters. This story illustrates the economic ways that Walker’s African American family is seeking fame and higher forms of living. The story opens as the narrator, Mama, and her youngest daughter, Maggie, await a visit from Dee, the oldest daughter, and a man who may be Dee’s husband. Dee, who was always scornful of her family’s way of life, has gone to college and now seems almost as distant as a film star; her mother imagines being reunited with her on a television show (Walker, 89; par. 4). Maggie, who seems to be intellectually impaired, bears severe burn scars from a house fire many years

The family has certain reactions to Dee’s behavior, as she is clearly taking an abject liking to her ‘humble’ beginnings when the discussions of the quilts arise. The political implications here resonate with the ideas of Dee and the cultural value of the quilts, as the family actually considers giving them to Dee because of her newfound ‘high’ status in the nineteen sixties culture. Although Maggie is intimidated enough to surrender the beloved quilts to Dee, the mother feels a sudden surge of rebellion: “…[I] snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero’s (Dee) hands and dumped them in Maggie’s lap” (Walker, 94; par. 76). She offers Dee some machine-sewn quilts, to which Dee refuses. In arrogance and disappointment, Dee turns to leave, and in parting tells Maggie that they are still living a primitive lifestyle. In response, they allow Dee to go, and they spend the rest of the evening sitting in the yard, not caring a wink about what Dee said.

The sixties brought about cultural respect for African-Americans in American culture, as it was the height of the Civil Rights Movement. However, in Dee’s case, she is merely showcasing, and only wants the quilts in light of this, rather than feeling pride in her heritage. The effects of social influence on Dee are obvious in that she wishes to have the family heirlooms for herself so that she may impress others. She cares little about how she gets them, and even less about

Some topics in this essay:
Maggie Mama, African American, Wangero’s Dee, Movement Dee’s, Alice Walker, Collegiate Dictionary, Mama Maggie, African-Americans American, walker 94 par, walker’s story, 94 par, influence dee, political implications, maggie intimidated, economic political, walker 94, african american, quilts dee,