English people believe that everybody who come from the West Indies come from Jamaica.
-- Moses (Pages 1 - 28)

Importance: Toward the outset of the narrative, Selvon utilizes this statement to introduce the racist sentiments that underly British culture post World War II. While Moses and Galahad are from Trinidad, in London they struggle to maintain their heritage because the media and society does not acknowledge their individual identities. Throughout the novel, they reminisce about their lives in Trinidad in order to preserve their heritage and defy the racist categorizations that erase their pasts, in other social interactions.

The Pole who have that restaurant, he ain't have no more right in this country than we.
-- Moses (Pages 1 - 28)

Importance: Selvon utilizes the Polish restauranter to explore white privilege. While British media is rife with xenophobic language, the culture does not persecute white immigrants in the same manner that it does black immigrants. While characters like Moses and Galahad are British...