“Everyday Use” begins with Mother (Mama) and daughter Dee, cleaning and preparing their home in anticipation of the visit of a second daughter, Dee. Both daughters are unique in their own ways. Dee is confident, smart, and very fashionable. At 16 she knew who she was and what style of clothing she liked. She always had weird friends such as the nervous girls who worshipped her. Dee however had a bad temper. This resulted in a terrible breakup with Jimmy T who ended up marrying a cheap girl from a family of ignorant flashy people. Dee rejected her heritage when she lived with her Mama. She was disgusted with the house they lived in. She hated the house so much that, she is believed to have set it on fire. This fire scarred her sister Maggie and stole all Maggie’s beauty and confidence. The old house and the new house have two things in common. Both have three bedrooms and both are located in the pasture. The only difference is, the old house had a shingle roof but the new house has a thin roof with no windows and holes in the sides.
Dee is also intelligent. Due to this, the church and her Mama put money together to send her to college. Away from home, she comes to appreciate her heritage and pays her Mama and sister a visit with her new boyfriend Hakim-a-barber. He is a modern fellow. He has an afro hair do with a long bead. He belongs to the cattle people but he does not farm or rear cattle. Upon arrival Dee takes pictures of her Mama, Maggie and the new house making sure to capture the cow that passes by. She is emphatic on capturing animals and the house. Obviously her Mama does not know everything about her daughter. She does not know if she is married to Hakim-a barber and does not pry. When she calls her Dee she responds by saying she has changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. The name Dee is however a family name from four generations, however if a more accurate research is conducted on the name it might exceed four generations. Dee is named after her aunt Dicie who was named after her Grandmother who was named after her Mother.
Mama is a tolerant and hardworking woman and a good cook, though not educated. She prepares a meal for the arrival of Dee. At table, Mama observes that Hakim-a-barber is a practicing Moslem, who does not eat collards and pork. Dee on the other hand eats all her Mama has to offer; Chitlins, corn bread, green, sweet potatoes. Everything in her Mama’s house presently delights her. She has undergone some transformations. She now admires certain items her Mama has and wants them at all cost. She wants the old benches her Daddy made for the table; she wants Grandma Dee’s butter dish, and the churn top to use as a center piece for her alcove table. She wants the dasher and does not have any everyday use for it but would think of something artistic to do with it.
Maggie on the other hand stares at Dee without saying a word. She knows she is not bright and does not try to challenge her sister as she picks up items from the house and demands to keep them. Maggie lost all her confidence in the fire that scared her hands, arms and legs. Even her eye sight is bad hence she stumbles when she reads to her Mama. She is going to marry John Thomas who is also ugly. She however has a legacy which cannot be taken away from her. She was taught how to quilt by Grandma Dee and Big Dee. After dinner Dee goes into her Mama’s truck and pulls out two quilts pieced together by Grandma Dee and Big Dee. She wants the two of them. Her Mama explains to her she can have one or more of the other quilts she made because she had already promised Maggie the quilts on her marriage with John Thomas. Dee insists on having the quilts and explains that she does not want the other quilts because they are stitched around the borders by machine. Her Mama realizes she does not want to give up on the quilts.
Dee continues to explain to Mama that Maggie would not appreciate them because she would put them to everyday use. They are indeed meant for everyday use as Mama puts it, and not meant for hanging as Dee wants to use them for. Mama recalls that she gave Dee quilts when she was going to college but she did not accept them saying they were old fashioned and out of style. Dee is however angry and fuming with range that her Mama would not allow her to have the quilts. Maggie is terrified by Dee’s temper and wants Mama to give the quilts to Dee because she can remember Grandma Dee without the quilts. Mama snatches the quilts from Dee and gives them to Maggie. Dee’s feelings are hurt because no one says no to her. She walks away from the room to Hakim-a- barber complaining that Mama did not understand her need for the quilts. Mama asks Dee to explain further and she clarifies that the quilts are related to her heritage because they were made out of clothes worn by her Grandmother or Great Grand Mother 50 or more years ago. She wants people to recognize her heritage but her Mama’s mind is made up. Totally disappointed, she puts on her huge sunglasses, gives Maggie a good bye hug and advises Mama and Maggie to try to stay abreast with modern trends and on that note, they drive out of the compound. Relieved that Dee just left, Mama asks Maggie to get her some dip of snuff. They both sit outside enjoying their life till its bedtime and they retire into the house.