This work investigates the socio-political landscape of Jamaica during the transition toward independence, focusing on the persistence of colonial structures. Katrin Norris examines the intersection of race, class, and economic disparity within the Jamaican social hierarchy. By analyzing the institutional frameworks left behind by British rule, the author argues that systemic inequality remained deeply embedded in the nation's administrative and cultural fabric despite the shift in political sovereignty.

Scholars and historians recognize this text as a significant primary document for understanding the tensions present in Jamaica during the 1960s. Readers frequently note the critical, investigative tone of the prose, which serves as a foundational critique of the era's social stratification.