Apartheid Explored in Country Lovers and The Welcome Table

Harassing or mistreating an individual based on his color or race is violating his or her rights. In essence, ethnic and racial discrimination, and superiority based on racial differences are morally and scientifically false, dangerous, as well as socially unjust. Further, there can be no justification either practically or theoretically concerning racial discrimination. The article by Nadine Gordimer (1975) in "Country Lovers" and Alice Walker (1970) in "The Welcome Table" explored the theme of racism and apartheid in different contexts.

Gordimer depicts in this story how during the period of apartheid in South Africa, children were taken in different schools based on their racial backgrounds. Although they were allowed to play together, children from black families were taken to schools that were meant for black while their white counterparts were taken to schools that were meant for white. Gordimer continues to explain that the type of schooling black children obtained were well below what their counterparts received in white schools. This racism or apartheid went as far as outlawing any intermarriage between blacks and whites and despite the adolescents loving or attracting one another, they were not allowed to intermarry. Instead, blacks are only allowed to intermarry with their fellow blacks and the whites with their fellow whites. This is well shown through the story of Thebedi and her White lover whom despite impregnating her. The question of them being married never crossed their minds; hence, she was forced to be married by another man.

Still in this line of racism and apartheid, Walker (1970) gives a vivid account on how an old black woman in South Africa was almost “lynched” by faithful when she attempted to att...

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... could not afford even clothing. Godimer and Walker have noted the poor economic condition in South Africa during the period of apartheid. The poor education and job reservations where affluent jobs were reserved for the white crippled the efforts of majority of the black people from progressing and improving.

Works Cited

Bernstein, H (2011). A recall of Apartheid in South Africa. International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa. p. 48.

Gordimer, N, (1975), Country Lovers. Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc

Roger, O (2008). The Apartheid Handbook (2nd ed.). Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin Books. pp. 102–109. ISBN 0-14-022749-0.

Walker, A (1970) The Welcome Table. Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc