Beneatha In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

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While in present-day society, acceptance for all minorities is omnipresent, problems stemming from racial issues had previously plagued the nation since its birth. The foundation of this country was laid down by white men, and for decades after this all other races and genders were considered uncapable. With people subconsciously placing themselves and others into groups strictly based upon physical appearance, one group -- white men-- emerged as preeminent long ago and left all others to take on the inferior role. This situation forced minorities to live in a constant struggle against the dominant force. In A Raisin in the Sun, the journey of an African American family is depicted by highlighting the constant arduous situations they face because …show more content…
This radical quality displays yet another factor which has aided Beneatha in paving her way towards an uphill battle. The overwhelming majority of African American women depicted in this play are submissive by nature, yet Beneatha is free-spirited and a natural leader. When involved in a conversation about the lack of God’s intervening into her life, Beneatha denies even the most supreme authority. For instance, “At one point, Lena actually slaps Beneatha and insists that she affirm her belief in God, but it is clear that the young woman acquiesces only out of respect for her mother. She will march to the beat of her own drummer” (McGovern). Through this situation, Beneatha proves that she does not rely on any leader in her life. Although she has been constantly beaten down, and she is viewed as futile and naive in the eyes of most others, Beneatha only values the person that she views herself as; she is able to see the leader insider of her. It is indispensable that Beneatha upholds this viewpoint throughout her life, because she has refused to mold into society’s norm and she therefore can not rely on society to support her. Overall, Beneatha’s refusal to accept authority is just one of the many components contributing to the offbeat persona she has achieved; however, her strength and independence allow her to thrive through this
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