Summary
The story “Comrades” by Nadine Gordimer introduces Hattie Telford. She is a white woman with liberal views who is just returning from a university conference on People’s Education, where she promoted education for black South Africans. As she gets ready to ride home, she is approached by four young black South Africans, one of whom acts as their spokesman. They are part of a delegation from Harrismith, Phoneng Location, and they have also attended the conference, although they arrived late. Hattie initially wants to help them by taking them to the bus station, but eventually offers to take them home and feed them, upon realizing that they have not eaten lunch.
When she arrives home, she takes the four boys into the house through the back door. Although Hattie thinks that she would not have let her adult black friends into the house th...