Summary

“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker begins with Mama and her daughter Maggie, who are waiting for Maggie’s sister Dee.

Mama thinks that Maggie will be nervous until Dee leaves. She fantasizes about being reconciled with Dee on a television show hosted by someone like Johnny Carson, but she realizes that this will not happen because she is a large woman and she cannot look a strange white man in the eyes.

Mama recalls their old house burning down and how Dee hated the house. Mama and her church raised money to send Dee to Augusta, to school. She would read a lot to Mama and Maggie, and she wanted nice things.

Mama does not have an education because after second grade the school was closed down. Maggie reads to her sometimes, but Maggie cannot see well, and she is soon going to marry John Thomas.

Dee promised to visit the new house but sai...