In Alice Walker’s short story Everyday Use, the character Dee undergoes a significant transformation by changing her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. This decision, which surprises and confuses her family, is deeply rooted in her attempt to reconnect with her African heritage. Dee’s name change is not just a personal choice but a political and cultural statement, reflecting the larger movement among African Americans to reclaim their identity and distance themselves from the historical oppression linked to their given names. For Dee, the name “Dee” represents a legacy of subjugation, a relic of the past that she no longer wishes to carry. By adopting an African name, she believes she is embracing a more authentic version of herself.

However, her mother, Mrs. Johnson, and her sister, Maggie, view the change differently. To them, heritage is not merely about names but about the lived experiences and traditions passed down through generations. While Dee believes that changing her name allows her to honor her roots, her family perceives it as a rejection of their shared history. This conflict between personal identity and familial heritage forms the central theme of the story, raising questions about what it truly means to honor one’s ancestry. Is embracing one’s heritage a matter of outward symbols, or does it require a deeper connection to family traditions and values? This article will explore the motivations behind Dee’s transformation, the historical significance of name changes, and the broader implications of her choice in Everyday Use.

Why Has Dee Changed Her Name to Wangero? Dee changes her name to Wangero in Everyday Use because she believes her birth name represents oppression and slavery. She adopts an African name as a way to reclaim her heritage and distance herself from her family’s past, which she sees as backward. However, her mother, Mrs. Johnson, perceives this as a rejection of their true heritage. This name change symbolizes the ongoing conflict between cultural roots and modern identity, making it a key theme in the story.

Understanding Dee’s Name Change in Everyday Use

Dee’s name change is not just an individual decision; it is a reflection of a larger societal movement. Many African Americans in the 1960s and 1970s changed their names as a way to break away from what they viewed as imposed identities. For Dee, the name “Dee” represents generations of oppression, and she feels that by rejecting it, she can redefine herself on her own terms.

However, the irony in Dee’s transformation is that she has never truly embraced her family’s traditions. While she now claims to be reconnecting with her roots, her mother sees it as an attempt to distance herself from her upbringing rather than truly honor her heritage. Dee has always sought to set herself apart, and her name change appears to be another example of this.

Mrs. Johnson, on the other hand, believes that heritage is preserved through everyday practices, such as quilting, cooking, and storytelling. She sees Dee’s name change as an empty gesture that does not reflect a true understanding of heritage. The name “Dee” has been passed down through their family, and in rejecting it, Dee is also rejecting the legacy of her ancestors.

Dee’s transformation is further complicated by her interactions with Maggie, who still embraces the family traditions Dee has cast aside. While Dee wants to take the family quilts to display them as cultural artifacts, Maggie sees them as functional objects that hold sentimental value. This highlights the different ways in which people connect with their heritage—one through symbolism and another through lived experience.

The Historical and Cultural Significance of Changing Names

Historical Context: Why African Americans Changed Their Names

Name changes among African Americans were particularly common during the Black Power movement. Activists such as Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali rejected the names given to their ancestors by slave owners and instead adopted names that reflected African heritage. This movement was a form of empowerment, as it allowed African Americans to reclaim their identities and assert control over their self-definition.

Symbolism in Literature: Names as Identity

In literature, name changes are often used as a way to reflect an internal transformation. By renaming herself Wangero, Dee is attempting to shed her old identity and adopt a new one that aligns with her newfound cultural awareness. However, Walker critiques this approach by suggesting that true heritage cannot be changed with a name—it must be lived and understood.

Dee’s Motivations: Personal or Political?

Dee’s decision is not just about personal identity; it is also a political statement. She wants to distance herself from the past and align herself with African traditions, but her understanding of these traditions is shallow. She changes her name but does not fully grasp the cultural depth behind it.

Family’s Reaction: Resistance and Disapproval

Mrs. Johnson and Maggie see Dee’s name change as an unnecessary rejection of their family history. To them, heritage is not about adopting an African name but about preserving the traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Walker’s Commentary on Identity and Authenticity

Walker uses Dee’s name change to explore the complexities of cultural identity. Is heritage something that can be changed by adopting a new name, or is it something that must be preserved through lived experiences?

 What Does the Name “Wangero” Represent?

• Breaking Free from Oppression: Dee believes that her old name symbolizes oppression, while Wangero represents freedom.
• Reconnecting with African Roots: Her new name aligns with the Black Pride movement, but does she truly understand her African heritage?
• Superficial vs. Deep Identity: Changing a name is a symbolic gesture, but does it equate to a real connection to one’s heritage?
• Conflict Between Old and New Generations: Dee’s transformation sparks a debate between traditional values and modern self-identity.
• Hypocrisy in Name Changing: Some argue that simply adopting an African name does not make one more culturally aware.

The Contrast Between Dee and Maggie: Who Truly Honors Heritage?

Heritage can be honored in different ways, and the characters of Dee and Maggie in Everyday Use illustrate two contrasting approaches. While Dee embraces a more symbolic and external display of heritage, Maggie quietly preserves traditions through everyday practice. Their differing perspectives raise an important question: What does it truly mean to honor one’s heritage?

1. Maggie’s Quiet Devotion to Tradition

Maggie represents a deep and genuine connection to heritage. Unlike her sister, she does not seek to showcase cultural artifacts for admiration or aesthetic appeal. Instead, she honors her ancestors by continuing the traditions passed down through generations. She learns the skills of quilting, cooking, and storytelling, embodying the lived experience of her family’s culture. For Maggie, heritage is not just a concept but a way of life—woven into her daily routines and simple, meaningful actions.

2. Dee’s Symbolic Approach to Heritage

Dee, on the other hand, views heritage as something to be displayed rather than lived. She appreciates cultural artifacts such as quilts and family heirlooms, but her interest seems more performative than practical. While she insists on preserving these items, she does so as decorations rather than functional objects. Her renaming and outward embrace of her African roots suggest a desire to redefine herself, but her approach distances her from the very traditions she seeks to celebrate.

3. Who Truly Honors Heritage?

The contrast between Dee and Maggie highlights the complex ways individuals connect with their past. While Dee seeks to control and redefine her heritage, Maggie embraces it as an inseparable part of her life. In the end, true honor lies in preserving and practicing traditions rather than merely displaying them.

Why Has Dee Changed Her Name to Wangero? Breaking Down the Debate

A Symbol of Cultural Reclamation?

Some believe Dee’s decision is a meaningful attempt to reclaim her heritage.

A Superficial Gesture?

Others argue that her actions are performative and do not reflect true cultural understanding.

A Reflection of the Black Power Movement?

Dee’s name change aligns with the historical push for African American self-empowerment.

Walker’s Message on Heritage

Walker challenges readers to consider what truly defines cultural identity. Dee’s name change in Everyday Use raises important questions about identity, heritage, and self-perception. While she sees it as a way to reclaim her culture, her family believes that heritage is preserved through everyday life, not just in names. This debate remains relevant today, as many continue to explore what it truly means to honor their cultural roots.

FAQ’s

Q. Why does Dee change her name in Everyday Use?

A. Dee changes her name to Wangero to distance herself from what she sees as a history of oppression. She believes an African name better represents her true heritage.

Q. How does Dee’s family react to her name change?

A. Her mother and sister do not approve. They see her choice as unnecessary and believe heritage is something lived, not just renamed.

Q. What does Alice Walker suggest about heritage through Dee’s name change?

A. Walker critiques superficial attempts at reclaiming culture and suggests that true heritage comes from valuing and continuing family traditions.

Q. What does the name Wangero symbolize?

A. It symbolizes Dee’s attempt to reconnect with Africa, though it is debated whether her change is genuine or just symbolic.

Q. Is changing a name enough to reclaim heritage?

A. Changing a name is a step, but true cultural connection involves understanding, practice, and respect for traditions.