Growth of the Rastafarian Movement Essay - 822 Words

Since its founding in the 1930s, the Rastafarian movement has grown to the point where it has become a major cultural and political force in Jamaica. During its existence, the movement has challenged Jamaicas neo-colonialist societys attempts to keep whites at the top and blacks at the bottom of the socio-economic structure. Because of its controversial actions, the movement has evoked responses from observers that range from hostility to curiosity (Forsythe 63). On one hand, Rastafarians have been criticized because of their belief that Haile Selassie, the former emperor of Ethiopia, is God and that marijuana (ganja) should be used as a religious sacrament. On the other hand, the Rastafari have been praised for their continual†¦show more content†¦There are several possible explanations for the rapid growth of Rastafari. One major factor in its expansion was the emergence in the late 1960s of reggae music, a derivative of American rhythm and blues and Jamaican ska. Reggae helped spread the philosophy of Rastafari to the wider Jamaican audience and the world. During that period of time, Bob Marley and the Wailers were the principal popularizers of reggae. Before Marleys death in 1981, the Wailers, with albums like Burnin (1973) and Survival (1979), articulated a message of liberation and redempt ion which had the power to transform a world of injustice and war into one of peace and love (Reid 172). By 1986, the Wailers ten albums had sold more than 20 million copies (Jennings 69). Marley and his music were significant forces in the increased popularity of the movement. Barrett felt that the growth of the movement was largely due to the charismatic personality of Robert Nesta Marley (213). Davis and Simon proposed that the Wailers music had thrust the Rasta cosmology into the middle of the planets cultural arenas, and suddenly people [wanted] to know what all the chanting and praying and obsessive smoking of herb [were] all about (Reggae Bloodlines 63). Because Marleys music was such a powerful force in the rise of the Rastafarian movement, there are many popular and scholarly writings which focus on Marley and his music. AnShow MoreRelatedThe Origins of the Rastafarian Movement Essay example1568 Words   |  7 PagesThe Origins of the Rastafarian Movement Rastafarianism is a fascinating world religion that began in the 1930s in Jamaica. This movement was set forth to make the black population not to feel oppressed to the whites. In this movement the culture of a Rastafarian spread, but what the people outside of this culture enjoyed the most from a Rastafarian is reggae. This brought about many singers, but the main one was Bob Marley. Rastafarianism is a politico - religious movement that developed inRead MoreBob Marley1577 Words   |  7 Pagesbut was anything but a free nation. Those in power chose to exploit the country’s few main exports, primarily bauxite, a mineral used in the process of manufacturing aluminum. The first ten years of Jamaican independence saw considerable economic growth, but these gains were held back from the country’s urban poor. From his book, Reggae, Rastafari, and the Rhetoric of Social Control, Stephen A. King writes, â€Å"After independence, the Jamaican Labor Party’s â₠¬Å"Five Year Plan† did not produce economicRead MoreEssay about Dreadlocks and Individualism1593 Words   |  7 Pagesindividualism, they are your Dreadlocks. The art of dreadlocks can be traced back to the Ancient Caribbean islands such as Jamaica where they were fine tuned to perfection by Rastafarians. 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RASTAFARIANS Islam interprets the relationship between a man2318 Words   |  10 Pages MUSLIM VS. RASTAFARIANS Islam interprets the relationship between a man and a woman as one, which should make many babies while living a peaceful existence. â€Å"...(God) has created men and women as company for one another, and so that they can reproduce and live in peace and serenity according to the commandments of Allah and the directions of his messenger.† On the other hand,â€Å"...(Rastafarians) view the position (of) women as a (weak-willed) one.† â€Å"...(Although) women are respected,...(and sometimes)Read More Michael Manley and Rastafarianism Essay3781 Words   |  16 PagesParty marked the beginning of this movement. During this time of exploration, Rastafarians residing in Jamaica were faced with little political support. Government objectives and reform were generally not concerned with the plight of the Rastafarians, and they were treated as a group of vigilantes. Michael Norman Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1972-1980 and 1989-1992, was the first political figure to provide support for the large population of Rastafarians residing in Jamaica. It was underRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesacquirer Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Edmonds, Ennis Barrington. Rastafari : from outcasts to culture bearers / Ennis Barrington Edmonds. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-19-513376-5 1. Rastafari movement. 2. Jamaica—Religious life and customs. I. Title. BL2532.R37 E36 2002 299†².676—dc21 2002074897 v To Donnaree, my wife, and Donnisa, my daughter, the two persons around whom my life revolves; and to the ancestors whose struggles have enabledRead MoreBook Review of Mirror, Mirror Essay1960 Words   |  8 PagesNettleford was also a recipient of the prestigious Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University. He is the author of other similar books such as: Inward Stretch Outward Reach: A Voice from the Caribbean; Caribbean Cultural Identity and co-wrote, The Rastafarians in Kingston, Jamaica along with many other culturally dynamic pieces of work. Prof. Nettleford was also well known as founder and principal choreographer of the celebrated National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (Humber 2011). As a leadingRead MoreHistory of Jamaican Music1268 Words   |  6 PagesIn the slums of West Kingston, the Rastafarians adopted African-influenced burru drumming to create a sound known as Rasta music or Rasta chant. The Rasta chant of the 1950s was not yet full-blown reggae. It lacked melody, but it had reached the ears of the mainstream and planted seeds for the wild success of reggae music in the 1960s and 70s. (Jennifer King) Dancehall is the voice of the next generation, In the mid 70’s Jamaica a new cultural movement began amongst urban youth in Kingston;Read More Neocolonialism in Jamaica Essay6862 Words   |  28 Pagesunder cultivation dropped 18% between 1945 and 1968 resulting in even more dependence on foreign food suppliers. In addition, it became more difficult to effectively change public policy when it was most needed because the organized working class movement dissolved and relocated. (Campbell, 1987: 86-87) Evidence shows a correlation between the arrival and influence of bauxite companies and the cultivation of marijuana. Ganja is the one high-yield cash crop existing in Jamaica and is second only