Question

What sort of hairstyles were normally worn by African American women in the 1950s? Why does Asagai refer to such styles as mutilation? Just how bold is Beneatha's gesture in cutting her hair? What kind of a statement is she making to the outside world?

Answer 1

African American women in the 1950s typically wore hairstyles that matched European beauty standards. Beneatha's act of cutting her hair is a bold statement of self-acceptance and a precursor to the 1960s and '70s Black Pride movement, rejecting the imposed White beauty norms.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the 1950s, African American women often wore hairstyles that conformed to European beauty standards, which usually involved straightening their natural hair. The character Asagai in the play A Raisin in the Sun refers to such styles as mutilation because it involves altering one's natural appearance to meet the beauty standards imposed by a dominant culture, which can be seen as a way of denying one's own cultural identity. Beneatha's gesture of cutting her hair in the play is a bold act of self-affirmation and rejection of oppressive beauty norms. By embracing her natural hair, Beneatha is making a strong statement to the outside world about African American self-determination and rejecting White characterizations of beauty. This is a precursor to the widespread expression of Black Pride seen in the 1960s and 1970s.