Country Lovers vs. the Welcome Table

Country Lovers Vs The Welcome Table There was a time where racism and discrimination was a huge issue. Back in those days, African Americans were treated unequal. There was no harmony between people unless they had the same skin color. Racism and discrimination still exists, but it is illegal to discriminate against anyone, including their race. In this paper, I will compare and contrast the theme of the short stories “Country Lovers” by Nadine Gordimer and “The Welcome Table” written by Alice Walker. Both of these pieces have the same theme involving racial discrimination. They have many similarities as well as differences that I will discuss. These literary works can cause one to gain a better understanding of what many people have experienced in the days when discrimination caused so much adversity. Both of these short stories are similar because they both involve racial discrimination. In the story “Country Lovers”, Paulus, a Caucasian boy, had an ongoing relationship with his African American childhood friend by the name of Thebedi. Thebedi’s father worked on Paulus’s father’s farm. They were very careful not to disclose their relationship out of fear of being discovered. For instance, in the story “Country Lovers”, Gordimer writes, “There was a risk someone would discover her or traces of her presence if he took her to his own bedroom”, (cited in Clugston, 2010, “Country lovers”, para. # 8). During their adolescent years, they were no longer allowed to spend time together due to segregation. They continued their sexual relationship secretly because interracial relationships were illegal and they did not want anyone to find out. In the story “The Welcome Table” racial discrimination also persists. When an African American woman attempts to enter a church full of white people, she was thrown out. For example, Gordimer’s literature states, “the young usher, never having turned anyone out of his church before,