The search for your true identity is a difficult journey. You need to trace your ancestors, research their heritage and correctly synthesize all the information gathered into that specific identity. This journey is especially difficult for African Americans whose ancestors were taken from their homeland. They have the desire to reconnect with their origins; however, their search is often hampered by the fact that their ancestors have been stolen. In an effort to reconnect with this lost heritage, many African Americans in the 1960s and 1970s participated in the Black Nationalist Movement where they could reclaim an overarching African identity. This search for identity is shown in “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. Through his text, Walker highlights two perspectives on true African American identity: those who understood and accepted their identity as an African American and those who desired to learn about their African ancestry. This idea is supported by various sources including academic journals, critical articles, and educational web pages on the Internet. In Alice Walker's short story, "Everyday Use," Walker uses characterization, themes, and symbolism to show that different perspectives for true African American identity caused a disconnect in African American heritage during the 1960s and 1970s. Walker uses characters with distinct traits to explore the differences within the African American identity. Dee represents the African American who desires to connect with his true African heritage. She is described as self-confident, arrogant, insensitive, selfish and thirsty for knowledge. These characteristics are shown through Mama's story. He says, “[Dee] read to us mercilessly; forcing other people's words, lies, habits... middle of the paper... Views on Heritage." Humanities 360. Np, October 26, 2013. Web. May 28, 2014. Ushistory.org. "Malcolm Islam." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, May 29, 2014. .Walker, Alice Ed. By XJ Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 12th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education (USA), 2012. Print.White, David North Central Literary Journal (2001): page no. Alice Walker The Official Site of the American Novelist Poet, September 19, 2002. Web May 28, 2014. Whitsitt, Sam “In Spite of It All: A Reading of “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker , African American Review 34.3 (2000): 443-59. Elte.hu. Web. May 29 2014.