Cultural Conflict In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

Cultural conflict in American society during the 1960s has been greatly documented. However, through “Everyday Use” Alice Walker brings attention to the more personal pain one generation endures as the next generation yearns to progress. Surely, there is a balance to be found, but neither the strong-minded mama, nor the pious, educated Dee were able to find it during the course of this short story. Mama (Mrs. Johnson) is clinging to the past, determined to not betray the memories and battles of her heritage. Dee, on the other hand, had broken the chains of bondage and had long ago left the home which stood desolate in the middle of a pasture. Ironically, it was the character who was perceived as frail, most vulnerable, most uneducated who prevailed …show more content…
She understands that heritage and memories are more than what can be held in one’s hand. “I can ‘member Grandma Dee without the quilts.” (321) Perhaps she just didn’t like conflicts, but every story needs a hero, and by her stepping up to the plate, having been portrayed as the dumb one, the author uses her offer as a transitioning point in the story. Mrs. Johnson was now going to have to make an outright decision as to what she was going to do. The small voice of Maggie served to intensify the tone of the …show more content…
The elder generation having been deprived of education and not even knowing what it meant to be truly free to do as one dreamed, must have had a tremendously difficult time comprehending the new generation being able to go and do as they pleased. The new generation was fighting actively and aggressively for their rights. The story mentions Muslims and the long gown of Dee (Wangero) when she returned. The 1960s was the beginning of the Black Panther movement. “The Panthers practiced militant self-defense of minority communities against the U.S. government, and fought to establish revolutionary socialism through mass organizing and community based programs.” ("Black Panther Party." Black Panther Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 July 2016.) By knowing this, the reader can assume Dee and her boyfriend were actively engaged in trying to bring about change in the best way they knew possible. This would not have been understood by Dee’s mother. Still, Dee, actually did want to hold onto her past and not forget it by asking for something as significant as a quilt which held a story to the women of her past. Neither communicated their desires well, but it was Maggie who seemed to have found her voice by speaking up and therefore, finding peace in the middle of the war between the past and