On its surface, “Everyday Use” represents mother who gradually rejects superficial values of her older, “successful” daughter in favor of the pious values of her younger daughter. Whereas, on a deeper level, Alice Walker exploring the concept of African-American heritage. Alice Walker describes Mama, the narrator of the story as “a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands” (1360). Walker leads the reader conclude that this woman knows who she is, and knows her heritage. She …showed first 75 words of 402 total…

…showed last 75 words of 402 total…American consumer culture and repeats the same mistake that most people do. She wants to preserve her heritage as a means to her own gratification. As a result, Mama rejects Dee and decides that her younger daughter should rightfully own the quilts. She looks at her “hard” and sees something in her she has not seen before- a woman who acknowledges and respects her heritage, a heritage that she is proud of- not ashamed of.