Does history determine you?

In the novel, does history determine you or do you determine your history? What's the relationship between one's ability to act, on the one hand, and being acted upon, on the other? Look at the comments on history on pages 126-27, 129-31, and 138.

I believe that within the novel Mama Day, history does determine you. It is strange because Cocoa ventures out into the city, far from the limits of Willow Springs, and manages to adapt to completely different custons. No matter how far Cocoa ventured from the influence of her town, her family history still manages to capture her free will. What is up with all this free will and history determining you? I am starting to sense a connection. I recall writing about free will in my posting for "Sweat". Comparing and contrasting both stories I still believe that history determines you in the novel in one way or another. You may feel like you're acting freely but you're unconsciously going down your historically destined path. That is...within the novel Mama Day. In real life, I could never terminate that arguement. The act that one may believe they're doing for their own desire, just may be a causally determined act. I am only stating this in the context of Mama Day...as for my beliefs...they constantly differ.