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Alice Walker Heritage

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Introduction

An appreciation of life by many is defined as a respect of and reflection upon one’s ancestors through which one finds their privilege to exist. This is often expressed through generational customs, inherited cultures, passed down traditions, or in other words, one’s heritage. Today, due to the provisions of technology that allow many cultures to be conglomerated into an endless timeline of bites and snippets, the fine details of individual heritages have become an otherwise ignored understatement. This breeds what is now defined as a belief in modernism and Western inclusiveness, which in turn erodes any opportunity to express one’s individuality. Such expression by an individual then subsequently categorizes him or her …show more content…
Each of these stories express details of an individual who believe that they transcend their past, yet each author conveys this transcendence differently. Obi of “Dead Man’s Path” believes that the traditions of his village should simply be abandoned for a modern view of education and progressiveness, while Dee (Wangero) of “Everyday Use” would prefer to merely plaster her heritage on the wall for superficial display rather than to incorporate it into her everyday life. This paper attempts to explore these differences in each author’s view of the importance of heritage, and how these differences relate to a modern-day epidemic - one that is all but completely erasing any memory of the trials and tribulations by which the predecessors of the current generation built the foundation to the liberty each of its constituents enjoys, creating an incurable state of …show more content…
Both of Achebe’s and Walker’s stories reference the important medium of education in regards to the idea of progressiveness, but Achebe’s story specifically focuses on the school and its significance within the village as a central display of cultural progress. Chinua Achebe, originally born Chinualomagu Albert Achebe, is a Nigerian native of a large Ibo village where his astute family teaches modern values and to abandon African traditions (Mazari 8). Nonetheless, Achebe still finds value in his African heritage and manages to maintain a relationship with those people who continue to practice the African culture (Mazari 8). Especially interesting is Achebe’s choice, while attending the University of Ibadan, to abandon his English given name, Albert, for his African one, Chinualomagu, which he abbreviates to Chinua (Mazari 8). This motive is strikingly similar to Walker’s story in which the main character, Dee Johnson, adopts the African name Wangero, in an attempt to formulate, or for Achebe, to maintain, a connection with each other’s respective

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