ar as to change her name from Dee to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, saying, "I couldn bear it any longer being named after the people who oppress me." Yet, she wants the quilts that are made by the very people that she despises. Mama is uneducated but not so ignorant as to realize Dee unrooted, superficial motivation to have the quilts. "For her, heritage is something to be displayed on the coffee table and on the wall." Dee blatantly disrespects her mother authority and free will. Dee is already claiming the quilts to herself, even though Mama has never said "yes" that she could have them. Dee challenges Mama authority by grasping the quilts and moving back as her mother tries to touch them. By doing this, she also disregards Mama free will to give the quilts to whomever she would like. Mama observes that if Dee cannot preserve the unity of the family by honoring her mother, then how will she be able to appreciate the quilts in a respectable way. Dee has nothing but put-downs for Maggie, implying that she is more deserving to receive the quilts. She is using this cunning approach to get what she wants. As Dee is visiting, she comments to Mama regarding the quilts, "Maggie would put them on the bed and in five years they be in rags." Dee goes to the notable extent to say, "Maggie can appreciate these quilts." Mama discerns Dee manipulation to twist the truth, because she is aware that Maggie knows what it takes to produce a quilt. "It was Grandma Dee and Big Dee who taught her how to quilt herself." Of course, Maggie can appreciate the quilts much more than Dee can. Naturally, Mama will give the quilts to the one who can appreciate them most because she has been cherishing them. "God knows Ie been savingm for long enough with nobody using m." Maggie is a frail, weak girl, walking with chin on chest, eyes on ground, and feet in shuffle. She surrenders the...
