Particular aspects of contemporary Jamaican culture are revealed as they have been experienced. and perceived by one of its members. Selected events in the life history of a rural Jamaican male are presented and analyzed in terms of his explanations for them and behavioral responses to them. These events also serve as exemplifications or indicators of specific socio-cultural dynamics in Jamaica today. An emphasis is put on economic, ideological, and familial factors generally found in contemporary Jamaica that influenced the perception, attitudes, and behaviors of the subject.