ng resilient and tough is a part of her heritage. Mother is very proud of her abilities and accomplishments. Mrs. Johnson, the mother, describes Dee as light skinned with nice hair and a full figure (486). She recounts Dee’s childhood and her appreciation of nice things. She was not the least upset when the family home burned to the ground while she was just a girl, “Why don’t you do a dance around the ashes? I’d wanted to ask her. She had hated the house that much.” (486) Dee’s character in the story is a direct relation to any number of people in society that do not know or are confused about their heritage. She is struggling to create an identity for herself, and is confused as to what it encompasses. She grasps at African tradition and culture, yet fails to acknowledge her own African American culture. This happened all over America, particularly in the North, in the 1960’s, following the civil rights movement. Dee is misconstruing her heritage as material goods, as opposed to her ancestor’s habits and way of life. This may be due in part to her leaving her hometown and becoming an educated, sophisticated young woman.Dee’s direct heritage is that of African Americans. When Dee informs her mother and Maggie she has changed her name she states, “ I couldn’t stand it anymore, being named after the people that oppress me.” (488) Dee’s mother is quick to point out that Dee is in fact named after her aunt, who was named after her grandmother. While Dee may not be an “African” name it is based on ancestors, tradition, and the heritage of the Johnson family. Dee discards this name in favor of an African name, Wangero, that, although is African, is not directly related to her heritage. It has not been passed down through generations, nor does it symbolize anything directly related to her family.The contradiction of culture and heritage ...
