Born Fi' Dead: A Journey Through The Jamaican Posse Underworld [Paperback]

Born fi Dead is by no means the definitive work on the topic of Jamaican criminal gangs, but as it is one of only a published few, one is obliged to read it if at all interested in the subject. The American author, a Harvard graduate and self-styled 'street ethnographer,' carried out 10 years of intensive research for the book- some two years of which she undertook in Jamaica. It charts the rise, rise and fall (more of a stumble) of the notorious Jamaican gangsters - dubbed 'Posses' in the US and 'Yardies' in the UK. Laurie Gunst eloquently illuminates the hostile backdrop that spawns the gunmen, depicting their path from political conception to subsequent redundancy to their flight to America, where crack and easy access to more guns were conveniently waiting in the early eighties. Poverty, high-powered weapons and narcotics are the staple diet of the content of the book. All the major warlords are acknowledged - Claudie Massop, Bucky Marshall, the CIA, the Jim Brown dynasty, "Uzi" Edwards and the like, though some are portrayed with a little too much deference to the cowboy movies we're informed had so much influence on the protagonists. The colonial context and crimson history of the island and it's inhabitants is also covered, though with a hand towel rather than a tarpaulin; more pages are devoted to the surviving and/or imprisoned soldiers of the ghetto ranks, recanting the cinematic scenes from their virulent, violent careers. Ms Gunst, however, doesn't refrain from telling it how she saw it - pulling no punches when disclosing the catalytic role played by the fire-starting local politicians: ".......they got their guns from the JLP (a one-time ruling party.)" The book is an informative introduction to the study of Jamaican criminal crews and is worth a read, though you may have to look past the author's somewhat mawkish stance and her romanticised sense of reality: she describes a machine-gun toting soldier, carrying out what's known in the ghetto as a 'rat-patrol' as having "beautiful hands, poised ever-so-gracefully on the barrel." Their is a portent to that sort of thing in the book's introduction, where the writer describes how she conceived the book as "part travellers' tale." There is also a quite intentionally scaremongering afterword entitled 'Is Britain next?' that is covered, along with the rest of this subject matter, far more broadly and authentically in the book Ruthless written by Geoff Small.

I am trying to get a copy of this book as I have not read it yet but have been recommemded it. As a Jamaican living in Jamaica I am very curious to see WHY this book was banned in Jamaica( i assume why it was banned is that I hear she calls the names of many known people who are in politics that are / were alleged affiliated in some form to these criminals). One needs to ask if this book is just fiction then why would a country ban it or why wouldnt the people mentioned in the book have sued Ms. Gunst for libel??
Given the recent civil unrest that occured in Jamaica in May 2010 when the US was trying for about 10 months to have the Jamaican Govt (JLP) extradite Christopher Dudus Coke. For 10 months they tried every which way to stop, prevent, not sign the extradition request. They finally signed it due to much pressure from the public when it was discovered the govt tried lobbying against the extradition of Coke through the D.C-based law firm of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips
The recent events in Kingston and in particular of the govt have disappointed me to no end and it has been a great and utter embarrasement for Jamaica and Jamaiicans in the eyes of the world. We have harboured a drug lord! My hope is that Dudus will now that he is in custody in the US will finally talk the talk and rat out dirty politicians and maybe this will be a step in the right direction to end of garrison politics.
I havent read the book yet but from what i have heard of it,with all these recent events there should definately be a follow up.
When one lives on such a small island there is a saying when you hear something "if it doesnt go so , then it nearly goes so"
Anyhow, I am hoping Amazon will get copies very soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book displayed a harsh reality of what life was like for many Jamaicans during this period. It clearly showed why so many Jamaicans migrated to get away from the somewhat savage-like environment that the politicians created for the less-educated lower income Kingston residents. I enjoyed reading a book full of harsh realities. This should show people, either PNP or JLP that the goverment is to blame for the condition of this beautiful country now and then.