Student Question
What experiences do Caribbean immigrants endure in Britain in The Lonely Londoners?
Quick answer:
Caribbean immigrants in Britain, as depicted in "The Lonely Londoners," often endure experiences of tokenism and racial exploitation. Characters like Moses are invited to social events by white Londoners, only to be abandoned and treated as spectacles or novelties. For instance, Moses attends a party, is left alone, and then patronizingly rewarded with money for his presence, highlighting the superficial and exploitative nature of these interactions.
An experience that becomes thematic for some of the Afro-Caribbean male characters in this novel is that of being a "token" friend or lover for the white Londoners. For example, on page 109, Moses is walking along a street one night, minding his own business when a white lady pulls up next to him in a car. She invites him to go with her to a party and he agrees. Once he gets there, she abandons him and starts dancing the cancan with some others. Moses is left to wonder around on his own. Yet, when he decides to leave, they "push five pounds in his hand and pat him on the back and say that was a jolly good show". Moses feels like he was used for his ability to make a racial cameo appearance at an all-white, upper-class party.
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