In “The Golden Cadillac” the story is told through the eyes of a young girl, Lois. When her father initially starts talking about driving the gold Cadillac South to Mississippi, and her uncles and aunts tell her father it is too dangerous, she does not understand. The reason for the fears expressed by people become more clear on their journey and Lois is perplexed when she sees signs saying whites only: “ I couldn’t understand why the signs were there”. However, after the police stop the family and her father is arrested, she is afraid to sleep and holds onto a knife for protection. The confusion and fear of this innocent child who is telling the story makes the racism a lot clearer and a lot more shocking..”
At the start of “ Country Lovers” the father of Thebedi’s baby Paulus Eysendyck appears to have escaped the racist culture and treats Thebedi in the same way he has always done: “ … he still bought home from a shop in town a red and plastic belt and gilt hoop ear – rings for the black girl, Thebedi.” In fact although, Paulus has gone off to the town, it is Thebedi who firstly begins to acknowledge the differences their circumstances when she tells a lie to her father about the gift that Paulus has given her: “ She told her father the missus had given these to her as a reward.” This shows her understanding of the need to hide the relationship between herself and Paulus as inter-racial relationships are not encouraged.
Although both Paulus and Thebedi have a relationship, they both realise the importance of race in their society signifying that they cannot share an intimate relationship. They meet in secret after dark, before first light telling no one of their relationship. However, it is Thebedi again who takes the more practical steps. When she finds out she is pregnant, she knows there is no future in their relationship: “ She didn’t tell the farmers son her parents had arranged for her to marry”. This suggests that she has decided to move on with her life instead of putting both of their lives or freedom at risk. She also does this so that people do not suspect that Paulus is the father.
In “ The Gold Cadillac” a change of tone and outlook takes place when Wilbert suggests driving the Cadillac into Mississippi, which is one of the most racist southern states in America. This is why everyone objects to driving the car to Mississippi saying: ” it’s too dangerous. It’s like putting a loaded gun to your head”. We are made aware of the extent of the danger following the statement: “ those white folks down south’ll lynch you soon’s look at you”. Although we fully understand the danger, Lois is confused by the whole situation. She does not understand what the word “lynch” means but it still scares her.
The preparation for the journey of picnic baskets ironic in the story “The Gold Cadillac”. The fact that they are preparing a picnic seems to be grand to the children: “It was like a grand, grand picnic we were going on” . We get the impression that the picnic is a treat but in fact it is made clear that the picnic is more of a practicality as we read of the signs which forbid black people from eating in certain places Mississippi: “ … we saw even more signs saying: WHITE ONLY, COLOURED NOT ALLOWED”.
In country lovers Njabulo’s attitude is positive. Even though the baby may not be his own he still cares for and supports it: “ Out of his farm labourers earnings he bought from the Indian store a cellophane… six napkins, a card of safety pins, a knitted jacket, cap and bootees, a dress, and a tin of Johnson’s baby powder for Thebedi’s baby.” He may have chosen to support the baby because he loved her and wanted to help her so put the baby first. It may also be that he knows that the baby belongs to Paulus but is powerless to do anything about it so makes the best of the situation. However, Paulus reacts in a completely different manner thinking only of himself: “ He struggled for a moment with a grimace of tears of anger and self pity” This makes us feel that he completely inconsiderate and selfish as he and Thebedi have been friends since they were small children and now Paulus is turning his back on her and thinking of himself and how the situation will affect him.
The reason Paulus wants the child kept out of sight is because many people in the village are aware of the fact that Paulus and Thebedi were very close friends. If people saw the colour of the baby it wouldn’t be long before they would realise that Paulus is the father. When Paulus visits she doesn’t question his motives or what he has been doing “ He went into Njabulo’s house, where the child lay; she did not follow but stayed outside” Thebedi later tells her husband that the baby is sleeping when he is probably already dead. Thebedi may not be sure that Paulus has killed the child but she probably suspects and accepts this as he is the master.
In “The Golden Cadillac”, Wilbert is arrested because he is a black man driving a nice car, which the police suggest is stolen. When they see, however, it is not they still fine him. Following his arrest and after waking up after a sleep in the car, Wilbert decides to go back and get his cousins car. The reason for Wilbert’s sudden change of heart is because his youngest daughter is so scared that she feels the need to carry a knife to protect herself. Wilbert also feels that by driving the car he has put the whole family at risk and does not want to continue doing so: “ Driving this car any further south … it’s just not worth the risk.”
The official justice systems vary in both stories. In “The Golden Cadillac” the police appear to arrest Wilbert based on the fact that he is a black man driving a nice car in the south. They don’t appear to have nay reason for suspecting he has stolen the car. Even though they stop him saying that the car must be stolen, they fine him for speeding, which seems unfair. In “Country Lovers” , Paulus is initially arrested following the death of the baby. Thebedi initially states that she saw Paulus poison the baby but later changes her story. This may have been because a year later she had another baby, it may also have been because she realised that if she said she had seen him do this then she might end up in prison herself. At the end of the story the white community congratulate Paulus on the trial they are pleased for him: “ The young white man refused to accept the congratulations of press and public” This suggests a guilty conscience and that that Paulus knows that his behaviour towards Thebedi and the baby was not good even if her did not kill the baby he had not wanted anyone to know of it or his relationship with Thebedi.
Paulus’ fathers comment at the end of “ Country Lovers” : “ I will try and carry on as best I can to hold up my head in the district” suggest that he regards his son’s behaviour as shameful. However, it is not clear if his shame is because his son may have killed a child or for having a relationship with a black women. This comment can be linked to Thebedi’s comment at the end of the story “…it was a thing of our childhood” which suggests that she is ashamed of her relationship with Paulus and needs to explain it.
At the end of “The Golden Cadillac” Wilbert sells the car. He does this because he sees how it is pulling his family further apart and putting them in danger. The car will always be a reminder to him of white power and racism and the journey the family made to Mississippi..
Both authors show the effect of racism on lives and relationships. Nadine Gordimer shows this in “Country Lovers” when the baby is killed and in the relationship between Thebedi and Paulus, which is destroyed because of racism. Had there not been racism within the community which they lived the baby may have still been alive and they may have formed a family together. In “The Golden Cadillac” Mildred Taylor shows us that racism affected the family in a negative way. Racism begins to cause a disruption within Wilbert’s family as it sparks arguments with his wife and makes his daughters scared to ride in the car. Although Wilbert ends up selling the car and riding around in a cheap and scruffy car whilst being laughed at, he comes out with more dignity. Wilbert and his faäily know the truth, which is that he häs chosen to sell the car and that his family is probably stronger and are bought even closer together. In “ Country Lovers” Paulus comes out with less sympathy than Thebedi as he has you get the impression that he has taken the life of an innocent little child. Even if he has not the way he has treated Thebedi is not very good.