Personal Essay 'Two Ways To Belong In America'

Key: Veronica Abby Alyssa Maddie Culture is the way we grow and learn our life lessons. From the food we eat, to the type of music we were raised around; all of this contributes to our culture. All of us grow into culture differently. In some places, women aren’t allowed to attend school because of their different beliefs. In America, it’s mandatory for all children to attend school until you are at least 17.

Everyday Use: What Will Your Ancestors Treasure? In the short story “Everyday Use” Alice Walker takes the reader through a world that was in the midst of a radical change. A time when new affluence was coming to a generation of African Americans. Walker’s generation knew nothing but hardships, and they had to make due with whatever they happened to have around.

A sentimental item can allow one to tie their memories to it once a moment comes to an end, letting them continuously cherish that memory. The item can range from anything a person wants, depending on them and their experiences; such as, the quilts in the short story "Everyday Use" and the poem " My Mother Pieced my Quilts". Both Teresa Acosta and Alice Walker use imagery and figurative language to establish the quilt as the love and respect for both of their family's heritage.

Walker shows her approval of Mrs. Johnson’s view of heritage as memory and tradition by making Dee an unsavory character. Dee’s flaws are subtly highlighted throughout “Everyday Use”. Walker paints Dee as a self-centered, judgmental, and materialistic woman. In the opening sentence of “Everyday Use” Mrs. Johnson, Dee’s mother, says “I will wait for her in the yard that Maggie and I made so clean and wavy yesterday afternoon.”

In Bharati Mukherjee essay “Two Ways to Belong in America.” the author explains the different lives of two sisters. The two sisters Mira and Bharati are both from India that moved to America. Both living separate lives in America for 35 years with Mira griping closely to her Indian citizenship as she marries an Indian student majoring in business administration. Bharati on the other hands does the opposite and marries a Canadian American.

Professor Joe Sarnowski’s academic journal criticizes the characters of the story, “Every Day Use”. He examines the conflict between the mother and her oldest daughter, Dee. Sarnowski asserts that Dee is trying to justify her personal gain, since she cherishes the economic value of the quilts more than that of the heritage they represent. The author continues to compare Dee’s ego with that of her sister Maggie. Who in contrast, has true appreciation for her heritage.

The point of view in the story “Everyday Use,” by Alice Walker plays a big part. Throughout the story, one of Mama’s daughters came to visit. The way Mama and Maggie see her is not in a very pleasant way. In fact, they are scared to tell her no when it comes to anything. From Mama’s perspective Dee seems like this rude, stuck up, spoiled child because she had the opportunity to go out and expand her education, while Mama and Maggie continued to live their lives on the farm.

heritage. Although most of their memories and a small chunk of their heritage got burned up in their house. Trapped in the house fired was Maggie who was severely burned. However, Maggie survived, which gave her the motive to live every day as if was your last. Although Maggie is very humble she does whisper out a few thing when it comes to her heritage.

In the short story, “Everyday Use”, by Alice Walker, one can say that the quilts mentioned in the story symbolize heritage because the quilts were made by different generations of the family. Because of this, the reader can see that Dee views her heritage as something to be put up for display so people can admire her past, where as Maggie, views her heritage as something that is learned and teach to others. For example, when Mama tells Dee that she can’t have them, Dee says, “Well … What will you do with them? … ‘Hang them’ she said, like somebody used to never winning anything …”. As a general rule,

The ways our culture inform the world are very diverse and bold. Because all cultures are important to each and every one of us, thus our culture heavily influences each and everyone and every culture around us. Culture is all around us no matter where you go, it will always with you. It has a massive impact on each and every one of us. Our culture influences our view of almost everything we see and hear in the world.