Forget living like an American. It was enough to be free and on the street.
-- Zou Lei (Part I: 4 paragraph 4)

Importance: This quote is important because it represents Zou Lei's feelings toward the American Dream after her time in jail. Previously incarcerated simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, she is happy to be free on the streets. It does not matter if she is rich and can live in comfort. Now, she can actually try and make a living for herself.

Along with the Chinese, there were Guatemalans and Hondurans and other Central Americans, having left behind what they called problems in their countries.
-- The Narrator (Part I: 4 paragraph 6)

Importance: This quote is twofold; it provides description for the types of people living in Chinatown, but it also provides a dismayed view of immigration. The narrator wants the reader to think about why other people come to America, and if it is a good choice for them...