Explore in detail the poem 'Nothings Changed' by Tamatakhulu Afrika and the story 'Desiree's baby' by Kate Chopin, commenting on how the authors have presented the relationship between black and white people.

Essay by shafiqCollege, UndergraduateB, April 2003

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Explore in detail the poem 'Nothings Changed' by Tamatakhulu Afrika and the story 'Desiree's baby' by Kate Chopin, commenting on how the authors have presented the relationship between black and white people.

"Nothings Changed" is an autobiographical poem written by Tatamakhulu Afrika. "Nothing's Changed" is set in South Africa. The area District six used to be a mixed race inner city community where people of all beliefs lived peacefully. But in 1948 a policy of apartheid was introduced. The purpose of the apartheid was the separation of races, not only whites from non white but also of non whites from each other. The poem was written in 1990 after the apartheid regime was defected so the poet is expressing the anger he felt when the area was first destroyed. The theme existing in "Nothing's Changed" is oppression and social inequality

"Desiree's Baby" was written by Kate Chopin in 1850 before the American civil war.

The story is set in Louisiana, America, and was written at a time when slavery existed. The theme in "Desiree's Baby" is racial injustice, prejudice and inequality of blacks who were treated as slaves and were not entitled to freedom because of their colour.

The poet's anger develops throughout the poem because he sees things have not changed. As the poet arrives at District six, the first thing he sees is a new restaurant, expensive, stylish and exclusive with a guard at the gatepost saying "whites only Inn". He then compares what he can see in the restaurant with a cafe used only by black people. This makes him reflect that despite the political situation, there are still huge inequalities between whites and blacks although South Africa had supposed to have abolished the apartheid government. The deep, anger and bitter disappointment he feels...