[Dee explains to her mother that her name is now Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. Her mother wonders what happened to her real name, D
ee.] “She’s dead,” Wangero said. “I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.”
“You know as well as me you was named after your aunt Dicie,” I said. Dicie is my sister. She named Dee. We called her “Big Dee” after Dee was born.
“But who was she named after?” asked Wangero.
“I guess after Grandma Dee,” I said.
“And who was she named after?” asked Wangero.
“Her mother,” I said, and saw Wangero was getting tired.
[To prevent further discussion, the narrator tells Dee (Wangero) that she doesn’t know any more history. She actually does.]
In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, what does this conversation show about Dee (Wangero)?
Dee respects her mother’s knowledge and opinions.
Dee thinks her mother and Aunt Dicie oppressed her.
Dee does not see her family history as part of her heritage.
Dee is interested in learning about her family heritage.
From Alice Walker's short story, Everyday Use, Dee is one of the daughters of Ms Johnson. She is pretty and educated in comparison with her sister, Maggie. Dee changed her name because she doesn't accept the mother's and grandmother's identity since they have been descended from slavery. By this way, she creates her so-called own new identity. The story is the pursuit of a true black identity where it is confronted with values. The correct answer is the third option.
