Dee goes off to school and experiences the world outside of the life she has endured with Maggie and their mother. Her nonconformity goes to new heights. On a return visit home, Dee flaunts not only her male companion, but also her new persona that includes a fashionable wardrode, a new attitude, and a new name.

Dee has changed her name to Wangero. She has always despised the fact that she was named after relatives, who she claims has oppressed her. Dee felt oppressed by her birth nam

Dee's actions are evident in some members of our society, especially in those who choose not to reveal their original hometown or birthplace for fear of being ostracized or stereotyped. But being a product of where you hail is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, this is where the foundation of our inner beings are laid, and it determines who we will be later on in life, whether we will be contributors to society or not, and what role we will play in society. After all, it's not where you begin the race that counts, but where you finish.

Dee appears worldly and educated, but her arrogance and ignorance of her culture and heritage discredits her pretentiousness. She is a stranger to her own family culture and heritage and doesn't value either one. Dee believes that changing one's name and wearing fashionable clothes personifies refinement. But one's heritage and culture should not be adopted simply because they're considered the latest trends among the cultured and sophisticated--only to be used and discarded as conveniently as one would change a pair of pantyhose. Culture and heritage are passed down through

Some common words found in the essay are:
Maggie Johnson, Dee Johnson, , culture heritage, maggie mother, heritage culture,
Approximate Word count = 751
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)