Dee/Wangero is weary of oppression and aims to overcome it by constructing a new understanding of her Black heritage. However, this new understanding of her ancestors neglects her immediate family and their values. Dee introduces herself to Mama as “Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo”, a name which she believes shows pride in her African heritage, and says “[Dee’s] dead [...] I couldn't bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me” (Walker). Mama replies with "You know as well as me you was named after your aunt Dicie” (Walker). Dee/Wangero then asks her mother to trace the name back through generations; Dee/Wangero never took the time before changing her name to understand its origins, she assumed it must be a product of oppression and changed it without
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She washed us in a river of make.believe, burned us with a lot of knowl edge we didn't necessarily need to know. Pressed us to her with the serf' ous way she read, to shove us away at just the moment, like dimwits, we seemed about to understand” (Walker). While Mama encourages her daughter’s education, she does not seem comfortable with the power dynamic that appears once Dee/Wangero is more educated than her mother, especially seeing as it is lorded over Mama and Maggie.
Education proves to be a divisive force within their family as when Mama was a child, her school closed and with it, her education ended; as Mama grew up in racist society, she had no options to pursue any further education, and was left to a rural lifestyle. Mama worked diligently to provide Dee/Wangero with the opportunity to achieve an education, and while Dee/Wangero recognized and valued the importance of what she had been given, education became a source of disconnect between the three family members.
She washed us in a river of make.believe, burned us with a lot of knowl edge we didn't necessarily need to know. Pressed us to her with the serf' ous way she read, to shove us away at just the moment, like dimwits, we seemed about to understand” (Walker). While Mama encourages her daughter’s education, she does not seem comfortable with the power dynamic that appears once Dee/Wangero is more educated than her mother, especially seeing as it is lorded over Mama and Maggie.
Education proves to be a divisive force within their family as when Mama was a child, her school closed and with it, her education ended; as Mama grew up in racist society, she had no options to pursue any further education, and was left to a rural lifestyle. Mama worked diligently to provide Dee/Wangero with the opportunity to achieve an education, and while Dee/Wangero recognized and valued the importance of what she had been given, education became a source of disconnect between the three family members.