Black Culture In A Raisin In The Sun
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In the play A Raisin In the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, many characters in the younger family express their black culture in the first two acts of the play. However, other characters in this play also express different forms of black culture. Asagai and Mrs. Johnson represent two different cultures in the play, but also affect this culture greatly as a whole. Asagai’s and Mrs. Johnson’s divergent cultural views and background highlight the many viewpoints in black culture. The two characters Mrs. Johnson and Asagai are very different in their viewpoints towards black culture. To start, Mrs. Johnson is a very anti-black black. This meaning that she wants to see blacks succeed, however, does not see it to be possible and nearly discourages blacks…show more content…
Asagai is from the country of Nigeria and because of this he also has Nigerian culture. This very different black culture does not fit in with the black culture of south side Chicago and is even shamed by many such as George. Despite this Asagai confides in Beneatha about avoiding assimilation. Asagai represents the culture of blacks before their slavery in and oppression in America. Everything from his music and clothes that he gave to Beneatha to his attitude towards American black culture suggests that he disapproves of the new black culture he is engulfed in. Asagai also wants to share his culture and try to convert other assimilated blacks like Beneatha to support his traditional Nigerian culture. This is very controversial, especially since Nigerian culture is commonly thought to be constructed on living in “grass huts”. Like the Youngers, Asagai is fighting against the common black culture of Chicago and wishes for more blacks to embrace what he sees as the true culture of the blacks. The only person who really wants to embrace the black culture that Asagai professes is Beneatha and even she has misconceptions of what Nigerian culture truly is. This shows that the culture of the blacks’ ancestry has been forgotten and has not been taught. Overall Asagai is displeased with the assimilation in America at this time. He wishes that the black community of America embraced their heritage rather than discard
Asagai is from the country of Nigeria and because of this he also has Nigerian culture. This very different black culture does not fit in with the black culture of south side Chicago and is even shamed by many such as George. Despite this Asagai confides in Beneatha about avoiding assimilation. Asagai represents the culture of blacks before their slavery in and oppression in America. Everything from his music and clothes that he gave to Beneatha to his attitude towards American black culture suggests that he disapproves of the new black culture he is engulfed in. Asagai also wants to share his culture and try to convert other assimilated blacks like Beneatha to support his traditional Nigerian culture. This is very controversial, especially since Nigerian culture is commonly thought to be constructed on living in “grass huts”. Like the Youngers, Asagai is fighting against the common black culture of Chicago and wishes for more blacks to embrace what he sees as the true culture of the blacks. The only person who really wants to embrace the black culture that Asagai professes is Beneatha and even she has misconceptions of what Nigerian culture truly is. This shows that the culture of the blacks’ ancestry has been forgotten and has not been taught. Overall Asagai is displeased with the assimilation in America at this time. He wishes that the black community of America embraced their heritage rather than discard
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