Everyday Use, By James Baldwin

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The threads of individuality and culture intertwine in the stories of “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker and “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin. From the rural South to the bustling streets of Harlem, each of the stories portrays how the search for personal identity and cultural identity affects different characters. Both explore the tenuous relationship between family members against the backdrop of African American struggles and the journey of self discovery, yet one embraces both the cultural and personal identity while the other rejects it. Through the analysis of characters, symbols, and settings, this essay will highlight the complexity of familial bonds, resilience, and tensions through the lens of African Americans. First, “Everyday Use” …show more content…
Bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarrell’s paisley shirt. And one teeny faded blue piece, about the piece of a penny matchbox, that was from Great Grandpa Ezra’s uniform that he wore in the Civil War." Walker 320. This excerpt emphasizes the significance of the African-American heritage as embodied in the physical remnants of past generations, honoring the legacies of those who came before and their struggles by using what they created for its intended purposes. Through this, future and present descendants feel this connection to their heritage and traditions, ultimately shaping cultural identity. On the other hand, Dee with her newfound individuality views the quilts in a more superficial way as a novelty art piece rather than using them authentically. In her quest of self-discovery through her African heritage, Dee has rejected her true African American roots but is unable to see it because of her superficial views of her rural upbringing. Next, in James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”, the story follows the narrator and his relationship with his younger brother as they struggle with poverty, racism, and the influence of violence and drugs in

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well as the lives of everyday African Americans in many of his pieces. Baldwin is widely known for his intersectionality. Being a black, homosexual male in poverty, he was able to demonstrate an understanding of the black male community in the midst of whites (Benston, 392). In his essay “The Discovery of What It Means to Be an American”, James writes about his personal discovery of his true identity. Unhappy with the mistreatment of African Americans as well as homosexuals, Baldwin moved to Paris, France…

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