Small Island

• Levy uses the character of Gilbert to


  Exemplify and broadcast the feelings of animosity, enmity and disregard the Windrush generation were victims of
• Despite their invite to re-build Britain after the war they fought in

  A segregated society was formed as the white brits made it clear they felt superior and had authority over the black immigrants who attempted to join British society
• Demonstration of professional circumstances

  • Gilbert struggled to gain a job in Britain because he wasn't trusted to work around the women, 'I'm afraid all hell would break loose if the men found you talking to their women'
• This shows Britain's paranoia and unjustified mindset towards black immigrants as Gilbert had no bad intentions towards the women
• This also shows the immaturity of the white brits at those times and using their insecurities after the British society invited the Windrush immigrants
• White brits rebelled with a constant desire for power over the black immigrants


  As they wanted to be feared instead of equal
• Sam King, an ex-RAF officer from the 1950s spoke in an interview discussing


  • Black immigrants 'couldn't go out one at night, we had to go out in twos' in trepidation of the white brits and how it was becoming a danger to be black
• Levy uses the confrontation between Gilbert and the four working white men to show


  • The unnecessary fights that would take place based on the appearance of the black immigrants, the rhetorical question of 'when are you going back to the jungle?' and 'fucking wog' shows how the insults were aimed to dehumanize and humiliate Gilbert for the colour of his skin
• Both of these moments from chapter 30 during the job interview and the post office belittles Gilbert when he is working for England
• This shows how the attitudes in England didn't except anyone black even in their efforts to be a 'good immigrant' and their endeavor to be assimilated with Britain