A Raisin in the Sun: A Seemingly Unimportant Meeting

One o my favorite parts in Larraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is Beneatha's meeting with Asagai.  Asagai seems a very genuine character who speaks his mind, no matter what others seem to think. He blatantly tells Beneatha of his feelings for her, "No. Between a man and a woman there need be ot kne kind of feeling. I have that for you... Now even...right this moment...", though he knows she does not really return his feelings at theoment. He even is truthful about these feelings in the presence of Mama, "It means... It means One for Whom Bread-Food- Is Not Enough",in explanation for the nickname he gives Beneatha. The meeting between Asagai and Beneatha at first seems very casual and of little significance, but after the drastic change seen in Beneatha afterwards, it seems of more importance. Beneatha shapes her hair naturally like the African woman because of Asagai's insistence that the style is beautiful. She dresses in the beautiful African gown he gave her and pretend to act like a tribal woman. She seems to embrace her culture more and I think she is trying to impress him. Not only this, she favors his line of thought, embracing the new idea that her heritage is something to be proud of. The short temper she has with Heorhe following her meeting with Asagai only further proves her growing affections for her culture verses the American way of thinking.