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Ecocriticism as a school of thoughts deals with environmental ethics in literature and its practicability in global level.  The exceeding ecological crisis has paved  path for the growth of such a theory like Ecocriticism or Environmental literary Criticism to create consciousness among mass. It aims to establish an inevitable interdependency and connection between the human and natural world. The paper aims to accentuate the binaries that exist in the name of nature and culture through the Gordimer's novel July's People. Nadine Gordimer being a noble laureate in literature was strong voice behind the abolition on of Apartheid  system in  South Africa. The very apartheid policy was an unethical and unnaturally forced identity upon the native Africans. How a particular ethnicity with a civilizing mission disapproved and deprived an entire community from their natural rights resulting in severe retaliation is the highlight of this paper. Apartheid means aparthood or keeping the aboriginals away from the colonisers on the basis of their physicality and skin colour. Since these native people are genetically different from white people they were treated in an inhuman way. The atrocities they face was inexplicably obnoxious. This kind of racial discrimination was a particular race's preference of ethnicity over environmental ethics. It is so because the physiological and genetical difference in each species is the outcome of natural intervention. It has got nothing to do with any culture. The geographical location, climatic condition and the natural habitat one resides in  are eminent designing factor behind the creation of any creature. So it can not be questioned culturally.

The paper aims at demonstrating racial abjections that exists in the name of apartheid system in South Africa. Such heinous practice is nothing but negation of environmental ethics.

July’s People, an eminent novel of Gordimer got published in 1981. In this text, Gordimer has succeeded to a greater extent in representing post apartheid scenario. How the over exploitation of South Africans has led to black revolution is picturised in this text. July’s People displays racial power-play in South Africa. Since the advent of colonization till 1990s, the process of racial othering was quite active and pungent. Slavery, oppression and exploitation of black Africans by white colonizers were common scenes to be witnessed. The retaliation of the blacks to the white racists was also equally violent.

The Negroes’ skin tone contrasts to the European skin tone. The physicality of these two kinds of human race is completely based on natural surroundings. The environmental aspects have an impact on living beings. The geographical location of South Africa is confined to South Atlantics and Indian Oceans. It has mostly temperate or tepid climates. South Africa lies in the middle latitudes which spans the tropic and the polar regions. This region generally has a warm weather and the climatic condition remains same throughout the year. The geographical location and the climatic condition of South Africa favor a rich biodiversity. The country is enriched with divergent flora and fauna. Sometimes the rare of the rarest species are found here. Thus human beings are no exception to nature’s design. Nature has designed and engineered the South Africans suitable to the ecological needs. Because of their morphological and skeletal traits the South Africans are historically grouped as negroids or congoids. The racial science and anthropometry categorizes human race into three categories. Those are Caucasoid, Mongoloid and Negroid (Wikipedia). The negroids are nothing but a kind of biological classification. The craniofacial traits of these people are different which include a typify skull, a round nasal cavity, prominent jaw lines and dark skin tone. They have also a rectangular eye orbit, supraorbital ridge and large megadontic teeth. These features are generally identifiable from those of Caucasoid and Mongoloid. Negroes are considered to be one of the most efficient human species as far as their physical strength and mental agility are concerned. The German philosopher Hegel researched tremendously on the blacks (Negroes). According to Hegel:

As we have said before, the Negro represents natural man in all his savagery and unruliness; if one wants to understand him correctly, one has to abstract from him all human respect and morality. In this character there is nothing that reminds one of the human. This is perfectly corroborated by the extensive reports of the missionaries. Therefore the Negroes get the total contempt of human beings (Ecofeminism 178).

Skin pigmentation is not just found among Africans. It is also found in some other groups of humans which are historically not categorized as Negroes. Even in Asia, we find such human species. Colonizers couldn’t accept these natural differences and tagged them as natural deformities. According to Vandana Shiva’s analysis in the text Ecofeminism:

From all these different features we can conclude that the main characteristics of the Negro are his savagery and unbridledness. This character is not capable of development and education. As we see them today, so they have always been. The only connection the Negroes have ever had with Europeans and which they still have today is that of slavery (178-179).

Negroes are understated as uncivilized. They have no parallelism with the white colonizers. The native culture of Africa is subjected to rejection by white colonizers. In the words of colonizers Negroes can only be objectified as mere human resource for the cause of development. They are simply helping hands in the eyes of Europeans. The difference in body structure creates barrier among human species. Difference is the essence of nature’s creation. Abiotic features have an impact on biotic factors. This simple theory was underrated and relegated to fringes. These rigid ideologies of white rulers gave birth to apartheid system. Self-annihilation and over estimation are the reasons behind apartheid which means a state of separateness. As per Maria Mies’ observations on colonial culture in the text Ecofeminism:

Thus, white people are considered more valuable than brown and yellow and black peoples; men are considered more valuable than women; owners of means of production are considered more valuable than those who work these means. Everything considered as less valuable was defined as ‘nature’; everything that was valued higher was defined as ‘human’. And the human being par excellence is the white man; he has the right to rule over all ‘nature’ and to promote his own creation— ‘culture’.(178)

Apartheid is nothing but an institutionalized racism, that means discrimination on the basis of race, is a legal thing in South Africa. It existed from 1948 to 1990s. The white hegemony encouraged discrimination and exploitation of blacks, coloured, and Asian South Africans for their own benefits. Apartheid system has wide sociopolitical and economic impact on the natives. It is categorized into 2 sections such as petty apartheid and grand apartheid. These categories include segregation of public facilities including housing and employment opportunities. The minority rulers codified certain racial stratifications which included many vehement laws and acts. Prohibition of Mixed Marriage Act, 1949, which was renamed as Immorality Act of 1950 made interracial marriages and sexual relationships illegal. The Population Registration Act, 1950, was even more humiliating. It divided South Africans into 4 racial groups based on appearance, ancestry and status. The classifications were ‘black’, ‘white’, ‘coloured’ and ‘Indian’. Each category of people was given a land to reside and these residential areas were far away from the white residential areas. Millions of natives had been thrown away from their own lands. They were left in a state of destitution. These new homelands of the Indigenes were further divided into different tribal groups. Bantustan or Bantu homeland or in simple terms homes of black people is an example of it. Relocated natives lost their identity because they were no longer the citizens of South Africa which was under white supremacy. Repressive methods to eliminate and mute the voice of the natives was so intense that apartheid system sustained for half a century legally in South Africa. This relocating of population is called as slum clearance in the words of the civilizers. The black inhabitants in white residential areas were considered as black spots. For example, thousands of people from Western Cape Town were removed to Transkei and Ciskei just because Cape Town was over populated with white people. Transkei,   Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ceskei were the other states which were exclusively meant for the black Africans.  These lands were granted to the blacks by the white rulers. These (TBVC states) were not sovereign; rather they were controlled by the South African government. People of these areas had no easy access to South Africa. They were allotted with special passports on some special occasions. Without proper permission entry into South Africa was prohibited in the name of illegal immigration. Nevertheless we see so many references and depiction of apartheid and anti-apartheid in Gordimer’s writings.

The story line of July’s People revolves around a white couple named Smales. Smales couple belongs to the upper middleclass white society. They witness a social turmoil in South Africa which was an outcome of apartheid policies. Black South Africans have waged a war against the white supremacy. As the story unfolds, we see intensified black retaliation. The rebellious black armies attacked the white people randomly. These kinds of unfavorable situations make the Smales leave their residence and move to a safer area and that safer area has been provided by their black servant named July. Maureen and Bam have a servant named July, who is a black African. They have a very uncommon and a cordial relationship with July and that cordiality paid them off at this very situation of national emergency. The Smales couple moves to July’s remote village and confirm their safety. The Smales having left with any other option accepted July’s humble offer. But the offer is quite tough to be handled. This couple was used to a kind of cozy and comfortable life, but their stay at July’s home was a contradictory one. Their life has changed drastically because the kind of adjustment they are undergoing cannot be a part of civilized life. The very surrounding and living conditions they have are entirely different from their own. The very first night of the Smales in July’s cottage is like an adventurous fun trip. But this adventure trip turns nightmarish gradually. The tribal culture, life style and food habit is a complete new experience for the Smales. The poverty stricken natives, the insanitary condition and most importantly their physical difference are reasons of astonishment for the Smales. The African native language and their broken English are not very convenient for them. Anyhow their circumstances compel them to make do with the situation. This engenders a kind of dissatisfaction in the Smales. The adjustment process is toughening day by day which creates a sense of gap between the Smales couple. Apart from their adjustment the fellow beings of July are also suspicious about the white people’s existence in their village. The blacks cannot comprehend July’s strategy. They are skeptical about the whites because of their past experiences. July’s mother is baffled with the thought of Smales staying with them. July’s mother exclaims:

His mother made the stylized, gobbling exclamations that both ward off disaster and attribute it to fate. What will the white people do to us now, God must save us.— Her son, who had seen the white woman and the three children cowered on the floor of their vehicle, led the white face behind the wheel in his footsteps, his way the only one in a wilderness, was suddenly aware of something he had not known. —They can’t do anything. Nothing to us any more.—White people. They are very powerful, my son. They are very clever. You will never come to the end of the things they can do.— (July’s People 25)

July’s mother ventilates her colonial experience by saying that, the white colonizers ventured into distant countries and lands for trading. Apart from trading, this business minded colonizers cunningly became the part of the foreign lands in the name of civilizing mission. They encroached the lands of the indigenes and tried to rule them in the name of trade and commerce. This is how they empowered themselves by oppressing and rejecting the native culture. The indigenous culture was considered to be nothing but savagery. They were considered as lesser breeds like other species. Toni Morrison speaks what it means to be black in the text Origin of Others: “The whites believe the point being that blacks are useful, not quite like cattle, yet not recognizably human (5)”. The Smales who landed in July’s land could not get a conducive atmosphere for interactions. The communication between them and the natives was an awkward one which is a combination of broken English and native language. The mud hut with no modern facilities surrounded by pets and muddy pits was a weird thing for Maureen. These existing circumstances at times filled the couple with seer helplessness. The Smales tried their best to adjust and be acquainted with the village traditions and customs. Maureen wanted to participate with other village women in cultivating spinach whereas; she was not allowed to do so by July. Arm chair reading was her preferred leisure time activity but in July’s village, women have no leisure for themselves. Women used to work around the clock for the maintenance of the family. According to Karen J Warren observes in the text Ecofeminist Philosophy:

In rural areas, women’s roles are those of the poorest-paid labourers–weeding, hoeing and carrying water and wood, combined with the traditional family roles of cooking, child care, health care and reproduction–without even the pay that a labourer expects. While consciousness of these traditional roles has fostered the idea that women are in some sense natural custodians of the environment in rural areas, there is no evidence of this notion and women in rural areas are largely ill-equipped for it. They are without training, status, access to community‑based organizations and cooperatives, land and property rights, capital or environmental institutions that make up the dense fabric of rural life and control its development.(5)

As per Maureen’s estimation, the village she was in was miles away from development. The role of male and female in day to day survival was quite different. All domestic activities such as washing the clothes, cleaning the pans, arranging food and looking after the children were undertaken by women in July’s village. These things were an unusual practice for Maureen. As per the situation’s demand Maureen wanted to extend help to Martha, July’s wife in these activities. July never allowed mistress to be the part of these ordeals. Instead, July dictates Maureen to keep herself at bay from these activities. Bam’s equation with the village folk was not that appreciable. The modernized life of Bam transformed into a rustic one. Being an architect, he involved in various developmental programs but here in July’s village, Bam is learning primitive survival skills. Often, he used to go for bird hunting to satisfy his desires but now he is using gun to hunt animals for flesh. He goes to shoot wart hogs with his gun and helped to supply meat to the villagers. He extended help to July for mending the farming tools and other aids. Apart from that, he made his own efforts to facilitate the villagers with water tank for better water supply. Bam’s indulgence in these activities was acknowledged by the village men. Children followed Bam throughout the day as they saw other children accompanying the father. Unpredictable things were turning up in the Smales life. Bam and Maureen’s comfortable and cozy life came to an end. For days, they could not reciprocate properly. The subtleness of a conjugal relationship is lost. They feel dispossessed with their life. The only possessions they were left with were a mini truck and a gun. The adjustment process was toughening day by day which created a sense of gap between Bam and Maureen.

Initially July was quite obliged and generous to the Smales family. Gradually his attitude towards the family started changing. It was the high time to understand that their servant is no more a servant rather he has turned their master by giving them shelter. Though many things were unacceptable for them but they were trying hard to cope-up with. As the Smales had taken shelter in July’s house, they had to abide by certain norms and conditions. They were feeling the change of power flow in their relationship, because July was not as obedient as before. The mini truck named Bakki was frequently used by July for his own trips. July used to take their vehicle without permission, which was a matter of annoyance for them. This signified their state of dependence and their power reversal. Ironically there is an alternation in master slave relationship. On one fine occasion Maureen sent his son to go to July’s hut and asked him to meet her. July responded Maureen differently by sending a message to Maureen that he is ready to receive her in his hut. July’s reluctance to obey Maureen demonstrates his sense of superiority over them. These small incidents accumulated anger in Maureen. She was not used to such kind of reactions. It was a cultural shock for her that whites being ruled by blacks. Maureen expresses her anger regarding July’s activities:

You’ll profit by others’ fighting. Steal a bakkie. You want that, now. You don’t know what might have happened to Ellen. She washed your clothes and slept with you. You want the bakkie, to drive around like a gangster, imaging yourself a big man, important until you don’t have any money for petrol. There isn’t any petrol to buy, and it’ll lie there, July, under the trees, in this place among old huts, and it’ll fall to pieces while the children play in it. Useless. Another wreck like others.(153)

With the theft of gun, Bam and Maureen’s troubles worsened. Maureen ventilated her anger at July and accused him for his past misappropriations as well. Maureen after several vain attempts to adjust in this tribal village was disgusted with the persisting conditions. Similarly Bam transforms from an optimistic person to a helpless and passive individual. Maureen and Bam lost love and intimacy between them because they were in a state of identity crisis. They are no longer what they were used to be. They were lost somewhere in the radical practices of blacks because now blacks were uncontrollable .In the words of native Africans:

—It’s a war. It’s not like that, anymore …The blacks have also got guns. Bombs (miming the     throwing of a hand grenade). All kinds of things. Same as the white army, everything that kills. People have comeback from Botswana and Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia, from Moçambique,           with guns.— (142)

July’s friend Daniel had stolen the gun of Bam. Despite the Smales interrogation to July, he remained silent. This very theft was just to let know the white couple that blacks are able enough to fight back and empower themselves. It is a way to liberate themselves from the clutches of the white supremacy. In a state of topsy-turvy, Maureen chases the helicopter’s sound .Without a second thought, Maureen leaves the hut crossing the river and gliding the huddles, she wishes to be rescued. She forsakes all her responsibilities of being a wife and a mother. Instead she flees from the black land where she had landed out of compulsion. Maureen identified herself with the white culture eventually.  Her quest for identity made her leave the place and the loved ones behind. The cultural and natural difference between whites and blacks is so wide that it is hard to overcome it at once. The resentment the blacks nourish against the whites is quite natural because the long oppressive system has transformed them.

In July’s People, we have several such descriptions and references where we get a clear cut picture of social and ecological imbalance. The implementation of apartheid policies on blacks is a cultural and natural rejection of natives. The physical difference of the natives is an outcome of natural process, which is questioned culturally. The classism which exists among human races is once again related to cultural difference. Apart from these differences there are references in the text where the women of color and the environment are seen in an exploited state. In all these unjustified human domination, ecofeminism perceives a parallel. Though ecofeminism begins with gender as a category of analysis but gradually it connects gender theory into all kinds of inequitable oppressions. It is because women prove to be a part of every human dominated structure. It is because women belong to every class, race, culture and nature. Apart from gender disparity, women have experienced colonialism, racism and classism. Woman’s indulgence in domestic activities relates her to environment and this relativity makes her realize nature’s degradation. She identifies her state of human dominance to that of the nature. This is how gender turns into a lens to perceive and ponder on various social and ecological issues. South Africa’s apartheid system is a divisive force which is harmful for both society and ecology; and ecofeminism as a praxis endeavors to expel all divisions. I perceive the ecofeminist traits and ideologies in the works of Nadine Gordimer as she has always portrayed a good quantum of nature and natives living in a perfect harmony. The so called black Africans are the indigenes. They are naturally different from other human species as per the environmental needs. Thus discrimination on this basis is condemnable. By discriminating and rejecting nature’s order, we are simply disrespecting nature. The colonizers belong to a different land and their environmental surrounding and temperature is completely different. The geographical location and climatic condition of Europe is completely opposite to that of South Africa. Hence, their body type is completely different from Africans. Though the external physical features of Homo sapiens are different but to think, contemplate and to express is similar in every kind of human being. In the words of Maria Mies: Without turning a reciprocal, symbiotic relationship between humans and nature into a one-sided master-and-servant relationship, the bourgeois revolutions would not have been possible. Without turning foreign peoples and their lands into colonies for the White Man, the capitalist economy could not have evolved. Without violently destroying the symbiosis between man and woman, without calling woman mere animal nature, the new man could not have risen as master and lord over nature and women. (Feminism and Ecology 121) Now it is high time for men to think about a healthy earth by discarding all the capitalistic and profit oriented ideas. For leading a balanced life man should start thinking rationally not only for himself or for his country but also for the entire living community. Ecofeminism ensures healthy thought process and practices in the present generation.

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