In Alice Walker’s brief story “On a regular basis Use,” Dee (or Wangero, as she prefers to be referred to as) arrives at her mom and sister Maggie’s residence accompanied by a person known as Hakim-a-barber. He’s offered as Dee’s companion, although the precise nature of their relationship is left considerably ambiguous. He embraces the same, although maybe much less fervent, curiosity in African heritage as Dee.
Hakim-a-barber’s presence is important for a number of causes. He serves as a foil to Dee, highlighting her usually performative embrace of her heritage. His interactions with the household, significantly his awkward makes an attempt at connection and his dietary restrictions, additional underscore the cultural divide between Dee and her household. His presence additionally provides one other layer of rigidity to the story, significantly through the climax involving the quilts. Understanding his position provides worthwhile perception into Dee’s character and the story’s central themes of heritage, identification, and household. The character exemplifies the complexities of cultural appropriation and the various approaches to reclaiming one’s heritage.
