Racism and Identity in Alexander Haley's Roots and Nadine Gordimer's July's People

Abstract

The following paper is a comparison between two novels written by a South-African Nobel Prize winner and a Pulitzer Prize winner. Apparently, Alexander Haley's Roots:The Saga of an American Family and Nadine Gordimer’s July’s People have some aspects in common: the first was published in in 1971and take place in the past, the second in 1981 and take place in the future; the first tells the story of a family which was gathered and separated during period of unsafety and oppression, the second is about a family fleeing their homes for safety during an entirely fictional uprising. However, it is my contention that, by focusing on their main characters, both novels shed light on the power relations between black and white people in both South Africa and the United States and the violence it brings about. Furthermore, the authors by both novels express their view to be a part of a nation rather than be just a small separate group.