Africans would try to "assimilate" into American culture in order to fit into the cultural mold, as Beneatha does such by straightening her hair instead of leaving it naturally curly. Joseph Asagai helps Beneatha to understand the important of the African roots, and promises her that if she ever went to Africa it would feel like she had only been away for a day. Beneatha then takes a lot of pride in her African heritage, and cherishes the robes and music Asagai brings back for her from Nigeria. She counters George Murchison's beliefs - he represented those who believed that assimilation was the best, were American rooted foremost, and believed that thinking so much about African is wasting time. Diving into African heritage was a piece important to Beneatha's part in the play concerning the idea of …show more content…
While her family is only trying to look at a smaller perspective in their lives, Beneatha is looking for a larger perspective on her own life and on the world around her. At first it seems that Beneatha and Mama's relationship is strained when Mama goes as far as to slap Beneatha for saying that there isn't a God. However, Mama cares for Beneatha by telling Walter that some of the money set aside is for Beneatha's education, and when Beneatha says that George is a fool, Mama agrees, making Beneatha very happy to have her agree with her on her differing views of George from the rest of the