In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use,” the name change that Dee undergoes reflects her new sense of identity and her rejection of the name “Dee” given to her by white oppressors. By changing her name to “Wangero,” which is Swahili and represents her African heritage, Dee is reclaiming her cultural roots and distancing herself from the legacy of slavery and oppression.
The name change is significant because it symbolizes Dee’s desire to connect with her African ancestry and embrace her African-American identity. She believes that her given name, “Dee,” is a product of the white culture that oppressed her ancestors. This is evident when she tells her mother, “I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me” (Walker). By adopting a new name, Dee is asserting her autonomy and rejecting the influences of white culture.
Dee’s new sense of identity is further revealed through her actions during her visit home. When she arrives, she is accompanied by a man whom she introduces as Hakim-a-barber. He is a Black Muslim with whom Dee has formed a romantic relationship. This choice of partner reflects Dee’s new identity as a follower of the Black Muslim faith, which embraces African culture and rejects white oppression.
During her visit, Dee expresses a desire to take several family heirlooms, such as quilts made by her grandmother and great-grandmother, to display them as artifacts of African-American heritage. However, her mother, Mama, refuses to give them to her, stating that they are meant for everyday use by the family. This creates a conflict between Dee’s view of heritage as something to be admired and displayed, and Mama’s view of heritage as something to be lived and experienced.
Dee’s actions reveal that her new sense of identity is centered around materialism and cultural appropriation. She wants to display the quilts as art pieces rather than appreciating their practical value and the connection they hold to their family history. This contrasts sharply with Mama and Maggie, who understand the value of these quilts in their daily lives.
In conclusion, Dee’s name change to Wangero in “Everyday Use” reflects her new sense of identity rooted in her African heritage and her rejection of the name given to her by white oppressors. Her actions during her visit home reveal a focus on materialism and cultural appropriation, highlighting the contrast between her new identity and the values held by Mama and Maggie.
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