Lost Heritage

Lost Heritage By contrasting the family characters in "Everyday Use," Walker illustrates the mistake made by some people of placing the significance of heritage solely in material objects. Walker presents Mama and Maggie, the younger daughter, as an example that heritage, in both knowledge and form, passes from one generation to another through learning and experience. To them, heritage is something that a person lives, and is made up of family members, and the knowledge …

…not so luxurious, the same things that are apart of their heritage. On the other hand, Dee has come to the conclusion that "it is a new day" for the black race. Dee would never use the thing made by her ancestors. She wants to give others the impression that she is in touch with her true heritage, by putting her ancestor's belongings on display, when the truth is she know nothing about their origins.