I shall try to be a good white boy.”
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: Johnny is reassuring Eliza that they have made the correct decision by leaving Barbados. He makes it clear that he knows he is going to have to live the life of a white man while in America. This is the first time the reader sees what could be awaiting Johnny at a time when there are few free blacks and those that are free are still treated poorly.

In Barbados, one was either a nobleman or a farmer. In America, Johnny marveled, one could be a farmer in the morning and vice president by dinnertime.”
-- Narrator (chapter 7)

Importance: Johnny is learning about American politics and has been comparing the playtime of the Lee children to his own playtime in Barbados. He believes at this point that playing in Barbados is somewhat rougher than he is witnessing among the children in the Lee family. His...