| The image of Jamaica that is marketed outside of | | | | The term "Don" can probably trace its origin to the |
| Jamaica and the Jamaican community is one of place | | | | term used to describe an Italian mafia boss. And the |
| that is made up of white sand beaches, crystal clear | | | | drug gangs described and highlighted in Yardie can be |
| water, luxurious resorts, constant reggae, Bob Marley, | | | | paralleled with the notions of the Italian mafia. Yardie |
| rastafari and ganja. These are elements of Jamaica, | | | | shows a very intricate network of Jamaican |
| but not the end all be all of Jamaica. The truth is there | | | | syndicates in New York, Toronto, Miami and London. |
| are many aspects of Jamaica which are not | | | | The Jamaican Don's highlighted in the documentary |
| marketed to people living abroad. One of the less | | | | have a very long reach. There are numerous |
| appealing aspects of Jamaica is the crime and | | | | examples of people being caught up in crimes that |
| specifically the violent crime associated with the drug | | | | originated in Jamaica and follow them to New York or |
| trade. | | | | London. Additionally, there are cases of Dons getting |
| As in many countries where there is a large amount of | | | | brought up on charges in England and then making a |
| unemployment, urbanization and socioeconomic | | | | move to New York or Toronto all the while still |
| inequality, an underworld exists. Jamaica is no different | | | | continuing to operate their underworld organizations. |
| in this regard, Unfortunately, to those who know and | | | | The most interesting aspect of the documentary |
| do a bit of investigating, Jamaica has been plagued by | | | | shows how crime is connected to dancehall music in |
| crime for well over 20 years. In fact, many people say | | | | Jamaica and specifically Kingston, the capital. The |
| that in the 1970s, Jamaica "run a red." Meaning that | | | | connection between crime and dancehall music mostly |
| Jamaica was a rather violent place. Some of the | | | | has to do with the origins of the dancehall artists and |
| violence was associated with politics, but the drug | | | | the fact that they come from many of the same |
| trade cannot be separated from the violence. | | | | neighborhoods as the Dons. In fact, some of the Dons |
| Ordinarily, you do not hear about violence in developing | | | | highlighted in the documentary funded dancehall parties |
| countries spreading abroad, but Jamaica is an | | | | for the community. |
| exception to this notion. There are large Jamaican | | | | The truth of the matter is that Jamaica has made |
| communities in England, Canada and the United States | | | | great strides since Yardies was produced and it |
| of America with strong ties to the island. Most of the | | | | cannot be stressed enough, most Jamaicans in |
| Jamaicans living in these countries are there for honest | | | | Jamaica and abroad are honest hard working people. |
| hard working jobs and to make a better life for their | | | | Yardies is a great documentary to get a perspective |
| feelings, but as mentioned there are always a few | | | | on the crime that has plagued Jamaica and Jamaican |
| "bad apples." This is what "Yardies-The Jamaican Don" | | | | communities abroad. Finally, this is not the type of |
| exposes to the world. | | | | documentary you watch to learn more about |
| In Jamaican Patois or Jamaican Slang, a "yardie" is a | | | | Jamaican Patois, but it is the documentary you watch |
| Jamaican. It is simply a person from Jamaica, a local. | | | | to broaden your horizons on Jamaican society. |