Research Paper on:
The Genuineness of 'Everyday Use' by Alice Walker

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Many African Americans feel that they have to look for their culture outside of their own past, that they have to go back to African traditions. While certainly African Americans  are descended from Africans, in this story, Walker presents an eloquent argument on heritage that emphasizes the "American" portion of this ethnic description. The narrator of the story  is Mrs. Johnson, who is waiting with her daughter Maggie for a visit from her "glamorous" daughter, Dee. As she waits anxiously for the arrival of Dee, she muses about  the past, and, in doing so, reveals a great deal about herself, Maggie, Dee and their relationship. It is clear that Mrs. Johnson has always been at a loss in  Dees presence and somewhat mystified her "sense of style," which was evident from an early age. From Mrs. Johnsons memories, it is obvious to the reader that Dee has always  considered herself somewhat better than her humble beginnings. Mrs. Johnson has secretly always longed for acceptance in the eyes of her "stylish" daughter. But it is also clear that  Dee has been divorcing herself from her beginnings for quite some time. When she arrives, Dee is decked out in bright African clothing. Mrs. Johnson comments that it was "A  dress so loud it hurt my eyes...yellows and oranges enough to throw back the light of the sun" (Everyday...Walker). As this suggests, Dee has become the quintessential modern, socially  aware black woman. She has assumed an African name, African dress, and consciously endeavored to throw-off everything that suggests her heritage, which she equates with "white oppression." In other  words, Dee makes a great show of professing to appreciate her "roots" and her "heritage," i.e. African heritage, while at the same time, making it crystal clear that she believes