Why did Dee change her name to "Wangero"? How is this change important, and how is it reflected in her attitude toward the family artifacts?

After attending College Dee has her personal rebirth where her African Heritage is, all of a sudden, important to her. Dee changes her name to Wangero in an attempt to connect with some vague assumptions of African heritage. Ironically she rejects her real heritage, that she shares with mother and sister, for an idealized heritage that she knows little about.