Beneatha is different from the family in several ways. Firstly, she is the only one not to have a child or a family of her own. She is also eager to learn about her African identity by dating Asagai, who is from Nigeria. She articulates her African-American roots by earnestly displaying curiosity in traditional expressions and styles of African culture through dance, dress, and music. She deliberately wants to relate to her African identity. She also asked Asagai to teach her about African culture, stating that she wanted to “find her identity.”
Beneatha wants to go to school and become a doctor, signifying that she is well educated. She has not assimilated to American culture as much as her mum and sister-in-law have. She wears her hair naturally instead of relaxing it as both Ruth, Walter Jr.’s wife, and Mama. The women in her life are not as enthusiastic as she is in African culture, and in the scene where she is dancing, only Walter Jr. joins her. Beneatha wrestles with her African identity much more than anyone else in the Younger family does.
Beneatha believes that George is a bore, as he has assimilated into the American culture and does not appreciate his African roots. Beneatha is much more interested in Asagai from Nigeria and is more familiar with his African roots. Beneatha wants to connect to her African roots and even says she wants to move to Africa to help after medical school. She is a woman with ambition.