A Raisin in the Sun

Act II, Scene 1 takes place later the same day. Ruth is ironing, and Beneatha enters in the Nigerian dress, announcing, “Enough of this assimilationist junk!” (67). Beneatha puts on a record and dances to the Nigerian tune that plays. Her eyes take on a faraway look as she sings along in Yoruba for an intrigued Ruth. Walter enters, drunk, and joins Beneatha, his eyes also seeing something far away. Walter shouts about Ethiopia, miming a spear with which he attacks his enemies. The siblings lose themselves in the moment as George Murchison enters. 

Walter greets George as “Black Brother!” (70), which George rejects. Ruth comments, “He’s had a little to drink…I don’t know what her excuse is” (71). George tells Beneatha to change her clothes, stating, “Look honey, we’re going to the theatre—we’re not going to be in it” (71). Beneatha accuses him of being “ashamed of his heritage” (71), announcing, “I hate assimilationist Negroes!” (71). For Ruth, George clarifies that “assimilationist” is “just a college girl’s way of calling people Uncle Toms” (72). Beneatha interrupts, “It means someone who is willing to give up his own culture and submerge himself completely in the dominant, and in this case oppressive culture!” (72).