Alice Walker and Everyday use :: essays research papers

February ninth 1944, it was a dark and stormy darkness well maybe not. Regardless of the weather this is the date of Alice Walkers birth in Eatonton Georgia. Born to the sharecroppers Willie Lee and Minnie Grant Walker, who had already been blessed (cursed) with seven children, Alice was their one-eighth and final bundle of joy. She led a fairly normal deportment till she was eight familys old and her elder brother by luck (or was it?) shot her in the eye with a BB gun. This unfortunate incident caused Alice to leave out the use of one eye. An provokeing by product of this event was that she end up with one blue eye and one br cause eye. An sharp student, Alice graduated valedictorian of her class and then in 1965 she graduated from the Sarah Lawrence collage for women with a Bachelor of Art degree.During the 1960s Alice was deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1967 Alice married a white human rights lawyer, Mel Leventnal. In 1969 the happy, socially controversial couple were blessed with a daughter, whom they named Rebecca. A year later Alice published her first novel she was twenty-six years old. save alas, bliss does not last forever, she divorced in 1977. Although, this low efflorescence in her life did not keep her from writing. In 1983 she won the Putzler lettuce for her novel The Color Purple.Cultural heritage was important to Alice Walker. This is shown repeatedly through with(predicate) out her story Every Day Use. Much of Alices own life and heritage can be seen in this excellent deterrent example of cultural pride and knowledge. She illustrates quite well that objects cannot define ones culture nor heritage, solitary(prenominal) attitude, experience, and an understanding of the other(prenominal) can tell where a person comes from.Dees interest in her heritage can only be described as a passing fad. Only the monetary value of the things she wishes to take call back anything to her. She does not have the skills to use the chu rn top nor make quilts, such as the ones Mama wishes to give to Maggie. Mama and Maggie have, cherish and use these skills each day, using their heritage. Dee does not see the practical uses of the churn top and the quilts she sees vaulting horse signs and a rise in social status. She knows virtually nothing of the families past and doesnt really care.