In "Everyday Use," by Alice Walker, we meet two sisters, Dee and Maggie, who are completely different from one another. The story takes place in the South during the 1960's. It was the time of the Black Power Movement, when African Americans were fighting for their rights. Many had to struggle and decide whether they wanted to assimialte and blend in with the world around them or instead choose to hold on to their heritage and traditions. In our story, Maggie and her mother live the old fashioned way and cherish the traditions, while Dee just wants to move foreward and modernize. She views her mother and sister as somewhat backwards. When Dee comes to visit, Mama is faced with a dilemma: Which of the two sisters should receive the quilts taht are a family heirloom? You see, these quilts signify a lot more than just beautiful pieces of patchwork. The quilts are symbolic of the rich heritage that the family possesses.
             First of all, the fact that the quilts were composed of such sentimental pieces of fabric makes them very symbolic. These two precious quilts were not at all made up of random scraps of matirial! On the contrary, they contained "scraps of dresses Grandma Dee had worn fifty and more years ago," as well as "bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarell's Paisley shirts," and even a piece from "Great Grandpa Ezriel's uniform that he wore in the Civil War." Imagine! If appreciated and understood correctly these quilts really told a story; the story of this family's past.
             Another great significance of the quilts is the fact that we can learn so much about the characters of Dee and Maggie by observing their differences in attitude towards the quilts. Maggie appreciated her heritage, in fact, she embraced it! Dee, on the other hand, while she thought the quilts were exotic and unusual, did not appreciate what they represented.
             In the character of Dee, we see the major problem of the Black Power Movement. Just like Dee, t...