The story Everyday Use by Alice Walker, expresses different ideas of heritage. The sister Dee comes home and suddenly shows appreciation for her heritage by trying to loot her mother's house of all family heirlooms. She tells her mother that she deserves the quilts that her grandmother made and that she can appreciate them more than her sister. Maggie, Dee's sister says, "I don't need the Quilts to remember Grandma." Maggie learned how to quilt as she quality spent time with her grandmother. Is heritage something that is tangible to be passed down?
Dee also has changed her name to Wangero, because she calls Dee a slave name. It is true that American's slaves were wiped of their identities and African names.
Although, I believe that the longer generations stay in America, their language, culture and traditions begin to fade.
I am curious as to where my own family came over to America. Did they come over on the coffin ships over from Ireland during the potato famine? Did they sail the seas with the Spanish Armada? Did they conquer lands during the Ottoman empire, or were they conquered?
I am told that I am Spanish, Irish and Hungarian. In my lifetime, I want to travel to all of these places, to see the lands where my ancestors lived. I already went to Ireland, and I fell in love with the Irish people. They are truly proud of their heritage and culture.
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i can relate to your statement that as the generations of immigrants pass through time that some of the culture on the newer generations becomes less apparent to the surrounding bodies. this is explained through assimilation, one body takes on characteristics from those that are encountered on a timely basis. yet the culture aspects of the mentality held by the individual will stay constant only if the individuals make a conscious effort to embrace their heritage.
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