Sibling Rivalry In 'Everyday Use' By Alice Walker

1052 Words5 Pages
This story made me think about the standard of living from past till now among African Americans. In the story “Everyday Use”, the values of Dee and values of the family differ greatly. Sibling rivalry created intense debates for the family. “Maggie will be nervous until after her sister goes: she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs, eying her sister with a mixture of envy and awe” (Walker 315). Maggie is a heavy women who self-consciously gives indirect eye contact such as staring at the ground in social situations. Maggie is considerate about reading to the narrator. Maggie stumbles sometimes because of her in ability to make out words that others competently see as clear due to…show more content…
I think the story took place after the civil war because the mom was talking about schooling in 1927. The civil war ended in 1865, however, prejudice still existed because for some reason race played a big factor in the way someone lived. This poverty filled condition lasted until about 1960 and 1970 because socially, culturally, and politically Africans Americans fought heavily for their own identity of freedom and equality. African Americans worked for getting rights and control of their own race by actively seeking out legislation, ending race discrimination. Even though they fight what’s right and wrong, mostly, African Americans reestablish their own heritage explaining how older families experienced slavery first hand. This is an example of Dee reconnecting with her family and she familiarizes herself with family heritage positively and negatively. Families having difficult times and stories worth mentioning about the obstacles they overcome make up a person’s heritage. Technological advances in medicine, computers, kitchen appliances, entertainment, and transportation spurred African American lifespans and decreasing health risks changing the standard of…show more content…
I consider myself privileged because some people in the world are at a financial disadvantage in which they do not receive equal opportunities as me. When I turned 18, while other people were having issues finding a job, I had family ties with my family owning a business. Since already being placed in a job, I had instant job security and superb benefits. Getting hours came easily to me because of how much staffing my boss, who is also my father, needed for separate events such as parties, banquets, and weddings. The catering has been fortunate for my family. Without the company, my parents would not meet my college tuition payment. I am very lucky my parents have resources in paying for my schooling. This is where I disagree with the narrator’s standard of living when she says “I never had an education myself. After second grade the school was closed.” (Walker 316) Education became important to me because I enjoy engaging in supplemental experiences learned from college courses. Furthermore, I value school because my parents persevere to give me opportunities that better my future. Thus, I am appreciative and thankful toward my parents. In the future, I hope to provide same opportunities they have given me. My family is important to me because they have everyday possessions that influence my thoughts about my family and how close we are. The past teaches me about my
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    Alice Walker is famous as a poet, feminist, short story writer and a novelist. “Everyday Use” is one of her famous short story in which two sisters (Dee and Maggie) display their different ideas about the value of heritage in their life. The story itself explains “the dilemma of Africans and Americans who in striving to escape prejudice and poverty, risk a terrible deracination, a surrounding from all that has sustained defined them” (Cowart). In the story, Dee is arrogant, ungrateful and selfish

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