Rastafarianism

Rastafari is, before it is anything else, a way of life. It offers approaches and answers to real problems black people face in daily living; it promotes spiritual resilience in the face of oppressive poverty and underdevelopment. It produces art, music and cultural forms, which can be universally recognized and appreciated. More important, Rastafari provides a positive self-image, an alternative to people who need and cannot find or accept one elsewhere. Even with its black foundation and orientation, Rastafarianism is open to anyone, of any race, who chooses to discover and is able to accept it.

My research focuses on the history of Rastafarians and the birth of Rastafarianism. I will reflect our lifestyle, including our symbols and beliefs, which will include our prophet and our God.

Marcus Garvey, who was a black, Jamaican nationalists, prophet to many Jamaicans and visionary, preached a message of black supremacy and initiated the " Back to Africa" movement calling for all blacks to return home to Africa. Garvey proclaimed that a new black king would soon rise out of Africa to deliver all Africans from their oppressions all over the world. This prophecy was fulfilled at the time of the coronation of Haile Selassie I as Emperor of Ethiopia. The coming of the first Rastas, A shortened version of the word Rastafarian, was in Jamaica in the 1930. The Haile Selassie I, whose previous name was Ras Tafari, means power of Trinity. This is from where the Rasta movement took its name. "In fact, nearly every black movement in recent American history inherits some legacy from Marcus Garvey---through the Urban League, the Black Panthers, the Republic of New Africa, People United to save humanity (PUSH), the Nation of Islam, and other groups. Garvey's influence lives on. His memory certainly lives among the Rastafarians of his homeland"(Nicholas 16).

The Rasta's Haile Selassie I was more than just a political leader. Our prime belief is that Selassie I is the living Jah (God) for the black race. " When Jesus left this earth, he promised to return, not as lamb to slaughter, but as a conquering lion; not as a peasant to be spitted upon, but as a King of Kings--- the greatest title bestowed upon a man...Haile Selassie I, being of the line of Judah, root of David and on the throne of David, crowned King of Kings, Lords of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, Light of the world, King of Zion, fulfills many prophecies of the scriptures" (Moodie 280). Rastas believe that Selassie the I is the Jesus that Christianity speaks of with his "hair of wool, whose feet were like unto burning brass". Rastas worship Jah and we participate in rituals and chanting as well as following the laws of Divine Power throughout our daily life. Rasta believe in the power of doing good and being blessed and so forth, we believe in power of doing evil and being punished. As the Rastas say, "Life is everliving" is the reward for following the word of the bible. Rasta say that blacks are to blame for their own shortcomings because they strayed away from the holy and divine way of living that was given to them in the Bible. Their enslavement and life ever since has been a punishment from Jah for their sins. "The scriptures are fundamental to Rasta world view. We do not look on the Bible as the 'the good book' ---everything has good and evil in it. Over time, the bible has been altered from its original state. For political and economical reasons, things have been edited out and different concepts and explanations patched in -especially by the translators of the Kings James I of England. Therefore, the Rasta is particularly selective about what they believe from the scriptures. Generally, Rastas point to the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Song of Solomon, Isiah, Ezekiel, Timothy, Corinthians, Hebrews and Revelation to demonstrate our philosophy"(Nicholas29). Rastas believed that Jah created man and woman equally and as one and that black people replenished the earth and later Jah created Adam and Eve, who are seen as the origin of the white race. Western Civilization, which is referred to as the white world, is referred to as Babylon, a doomed, misguided and corrupts society. It is their belief that the Pope is the head of Babylon and that the white race is guided by their intelligence, but if their commitment is strong enough, it is possible for a white man to break the chains of his condemnation and follow a holy way life. Rastas believe that heaven on earth is for right living people to repatriate to Ethiopia, the birthplace of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I. Selassie I was not a Rastafarian. He was a devout Christian, yet still the Rastas have strong faith because our God is not supposed to know he is God. "According to Rastas belief, the spirit of Rastafari is universal and eternal---Haile Selassie's death in 1975 has not diminished our faith in his divinity. The words of his California speech reappear On Bob Marley's Album Rastaman Vibration. Sung over the heavy-bassed reggae beat, the song 'War,' with lyric's taken from the Emperor's speech, is a declaration, a demand for freedom. Freedom, if anything, is the key issue for Rastas"(Nicholas 33). Rastas believe that the police, who are agents of Babylon, represent a government with no divine purpose because it functions without Jah. Rastas say that Jamaica is hell because of this corruption. Rastas view themselves as the true black Hebrews, chosen by God and that love, Unity, Peace, Equality, and Justice, which are the highest values of existence, will bring life everliving and that they will livelife in peace after the fall of Babylon. Rastas have a very welcoming way about themselves. Rastas are loving, caring, peaceful, and giving people.

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