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Dee’s Idea of Heritage/Culture The short story “Everyday Use” is central in Alice Walker’s writing, particularly as it represents her response to the concept of heritage as expressed by the Black political movements of t ....

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... were not militantly political, like, for example, the Black Panthers (Macedo 230). The ideas of the Cultural Nationalists often resulted in the vulgarization of black culture, exemplified in the wearing of robes, sandals, hairspray “natural” style, etc (Cultural Nationalism 1-2). The central theme of the story concerns the way which an individual understands their present life in relation to the traditions of their people and culture. Dee tells her mother and Maggie that they do not understand their "heritage," because they plan to put "priceless" heirloom quilts to "everyday use" (Walker 78). The story makes clear that Dee is e ...