First of all, I would just like to thank you so much for answering my question. I aspire to be an historian and I am working hard to pursue it.
What I wanted to know is -- why was there a surge in the use of cocaine and crack in the 80s? Can you give me some reasons?
Thank you so much and sorry if this question is dumb -- I am not familliar with this subreddit yet.
A Brief History of Seven Killings, by Marlon James gives credit to Jamaicans bringing crack to the east coast. It's a great book. It begins with the poverty and repressive government in the country in the seventies. Gang leaders run their neighborhoods and take care of the residents. Marijuana is illegal and is prosecuted severely. It's strange that a culture of Reggae and Bob Marley comes from a country where marijuana is a serious offense.