Lonely Londoners Discussion Questions

1. Through a variety of characters, Lonely Londoners describes the experiences of black men and women from the Caribbean who came to Britain in the 1950s. Please describe the process of chain migration from the West Indies to London.

2. Moses informs Henry Oliver that every person who travels to Britain has to make it on their own. Is this true or false?

3. In what ways does independence involve inter-dependence?

4. In seeking to make a life, in what ways do the characters establish themselves in British society?

5. Describe the ways in which gender shapes how West Indian men and women participate in remaking the social landscape and institutions of British society?

6. Throughout the novel, Moses comments on race relations on race relations in Britain. Please describe the changes and/or continuities in race relations.

7. Do the characters consider themselves Black or West Indian?

8. How does the experience of racism shape their identity?

9. Moses vacillates between staying in Britain and returning to Trinidad. Why?

10. Does Henry Oliver plan to return to Trinidad? Why or why not?