Jada Miller

Jada Miller

Professor Hulsey

American Literature

04 April 2022

Motherly Love

The love a mother has for her child is unconditional words can not express the amount of pain and sacrifices a single mother makes for her family. During the early 1900s African Americans struggled everyday just to live. African Americans lived under a white man, and were forced to work everyday for a small amount. A black woman was continuously raped, abused, abducted from family, and was constantly treated like scum on a shoe. The story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker isolates many issues women had during this dark time frame. The ongoing battle African Americans faced on a daily basis contributed to the main goal which was to seek change within society. If change was not appearing hatred began to build within one another leading many African Americans to turn on friends and family. In the story “Everyday Use” the reader witnesses a mother struggling to build a relationship with her daughter who is very stubborn. The unconditional love the narrator had for her daughter in the story “Everyday Use” helps demonstrate how hard single mothers worked for their families.

Growing up during racial segregation created fear and anger within the black community. Many African Americans were in disbelief that their skin color was the reason behind the whites’ inhumane behavior. African Americans suffered daily, and were left traumatized for the rest of their lives. Nearly impossible for a black person to support themselves because they did not have any rights at this time. The only thing they had was an slave number that was confidental to the slave owner if they were interested in selling their slaves. Growing up black children did not understand why they were treated unfairly. Experiencing white children in expensive clothing and shoes while they had to wear rags and shoes with holes and splinters inside of them. African Americans desired the life of a white family. They only dreamed about owning their own house and being able to provide for their family without having any problems. The narrator in the story “Everyday Use” did everything in her power to create a better life for her children. She worked all day just to have enough money for her kids, so they could attend school and have an education. In the story she states “I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing” (Walker 35). She was a hard working woman that was dedicated to making a change for her family. The journal article helps provide essential information on the mental state of a black woman. Studies show that all the heartache and pain black women receive due to the harsh environments they were brought into made them stronger and motivated them to strive for a better life (Whitsitt). Through all the obstacles the narrator experienced such as losing a house that she worked hard for due to a fire she remained positive and overcame everything that came her way. The short story helps educate readers that African Americans did not have any handouts in life and everything they had was worked hard for (Von). Throughout the years black women have proven that they are compatible with being successful in society and have gained the respect that they deserve.

Relationships between black families were not always perfect. Despite the many challenges they faced with one another, a lot of families slowly grew apart. Perhaps in the story “Everyday Use” the narrator’s daughter was eager for a change. Dee was an intelligent young lady, and physical appearance was nothing to be ashamed of. All her life she manifested in gold and glory and did not want to continue to live the way she did. As she grew older she began to teach herself how to properly fit in with the rich. Shortly she began to realize that her mother and sister were content in their way of living and she began to disown her own family. She was very disrespectful towards her mother and sister. Through all of Dee’s aggressive episodes her mother was extremely confused on why her daughter acted this way. The mother quoted “Sometimes I dream a dream in which Dee and I are suddenly brought together on a TV program of this sort”(Walker 315). Imagining how life would be if she could reunite with her daughter in a positive manner, and go back to how their relationship used to be. The journal article reinstates how a mother and daughter relationship can be a hassle and there would be a phase when a daughter and the mother will not speak for months at a time (Moore). Due to all the trauma Dee faced at a young age she is permanently scarred for life. During her childrenhood she always faced adversity from society and racial slurs from opinionated people. Dee was eager for a change because she did not want to relive her past life. The journal article defines mental health and coping mechanisms. The article states that many people tend to run away from their problems and create a new life for themselves. So they do not have to worry about any issues they had in their past lives (Valdez). While the narrator anxiously wanted her daughter back Dee was creating a new life for herself, so she could not go through the same pain she did as a child.

An average black family did not have much to live off of. They worked with the little they had and somewhat the knowledge they received. African Americans’ lives were a bit easier because of the lessons their ancestors taught them. Their ancestors taught them how to cook, clean, make clothing, and also how to cure many illnesses. In the story “Everyday Use” the narrator was on a strict budget, so her family would be well taken care of. Instead of building expensive bedding and blankets the women would make quilts out of cheap fabric. Even though the fabric was cheap the quilts were beautiful and very appreciated within the families. The narrator had many quilts each with a different meaning behind them. Making quilts for the family was a part of the culture and were non replaceable. Making quilts for your family just to stay warm at nights took many weeks to receive the final product. The quilts held so much importance within families that it could possibly lead into a disagreement. The story quotes “She held the quilts securely in her arms stroking them” (Walker 317). Begging the narrator for the quilt because of the meaning behind it. The quilt that Dee was begging for was made by her grandma who passed away. Journal articles help give the reader an idea of how deep the black culture is and how significant certain items are (Cowait). African American culture is very deep and spiritual even though some black families have experienced a rough path. Family has always been important to the black community because during this time that is all they had was each other. In the short story the author explains how hard a black mother works to make a way despite the circumstance ( S.Tk). In the story the quilt symbolizes determination, love, and willingness to grind so that her and her children can be comfortable with life.

The story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker gives the reader an intake of real life struggles African Americans had to face. Not only was society against them because of their skin color they also had problems within their personal life. No matter how hard life got and how bad the narrator was treated by her own kids she never gave up. She never stopped loving and caring for her child even though Dee did not appreciate the sacrifices her mother made. The narrator never asked for pity through all the trials and tribulations; all she wanted was an understanding of why people acted the way they did towards her and her people. This story is very significant to the black community because many do not truly go into detail on the life of an African American woman. Black women are strong and very powerful they are the queens of the society and deserve all the respect they receive.

Work Cited

Cowart, D. (1996). Heritage and deracination in walker’s "everyday use". Studies in Short Fiction, 33(2), 171-184. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.nmjc.edu:2048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/heritage-deracination-walkers-everyday-use/docview/195681019/se-2?accountid=12808

Everyday use – weber state university. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://faculty.weber.edu/jyoung/english%206710/everyday%20use.pdf

Moore, J. R. V. (2016). African american quilting and the art of being human: Theological aesthetics and womanist theological anthropology. Anglican Theological Review, 98(3), 457-478. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.nmjc.edu:2048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/african-american-quilting-art-being-human/docview/1809013759/se-2?accountid=12808

S.,T.K. (2013). Womanism in the select works of alice walker (Order No. 27732536). Available from ProQuest One Literature. (2345931375). Retrieved from http://ezproxy.nmjc.edu:2048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/womanism-select-works-alice-walker/docview/2345931375/se-2?accountid=12808

Whitsitt, S. (2000). In spite of it all: A reading of alice walker’s "everyday use".African American Review, 34(3), 443-459. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.nmjc.edu:2048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/spite-all-reading-alice-walkers-everyday-use/docview/209803042/se-2?accountid=12808

Valdez, J. (2021). Scribbling women? race, gender, and womanhood in nineteenth-century american Women’s literature (Order No. 28717558). Available from ProQuest One Literature. (2572576777). Retrieved from http://ezproxy.nmjc.edu:2048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/scribbling-women-race-gender-womanhood-nineteenth/docview/2572576777/se-2?accountid=12808

von Ammon, J. L. (1996). A selection of alice walker’s women: Ancestry, community, and the spirit (Order No. 9700197). Available from ProQuest One Literature. (304300613). Retrieved from http://ezproxy.nmjc.edu:2048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/selection-alice-walkers-women-ancestry-community/docview/304300613/se-2?accountid=12808