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Analysis of rastafarians
The sociological perspective on rastafarians
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History of Rastafari There are many misconceptions regarding the Rastafarian movement. These misconceptions have helped to fuel the fire of ignorance, which has lead, many to believe that Rastafarians are "heathen", "cult worshippers", "devil priest", "anti-Christ", "paganistic", "cannibalistic", "long haired", "witch doctors" who are to be feared and not trusted by anyone. These statements are far from the truth and absolutely have no credence. Many people question Rastafarians as to why, how, and when did the movement start? Rastafarians explain that Africans started the movement in the diaspora as an attempt to recapture and sustain the African dignity and culture as an alternative method to colonization and oppressive means of rulership by the European colonial powers during the post slavery era at the dawn of the 20th century. Picture colonial Jamaica of the 1930's, an axis of 400 years of exploitation of the masses in the name of the "motherland" England, a Crown colony maintained by the then British ruling class. Social rituals founded upon Anglo-Saxon ethics of church, state, morality, education and finance (social or otherwise) there on the island as in other colonies were nothing more than Britain removed to the Caribbean, "chips off the old block". Colonial society by then was socially and financially ordered according to "class and station" of White, Chinese, Syrian, Black, Jewish, Indian and Creole, down to the rock bottom dispossession of the Black suffering masses. Thus it was upon the poor Black psyche that the initial outpourings of the spirit of Rastafari was accepted and taken to heart; it offered salvation to those whose lot was little better than nothing - poverty in the extreme wi... ... middle of paper ... ...sized Exodus from Babylon; the return to the righteous way of life and living. MOUNT ZION: This is the citadel and dwellings place of Jah in Ithiopia. Mount Zion is where the Rastafari were when the Creator's first fruits dwelt with the Almighty in former times before setting out on the 7,000 years journey for truth and right trodding through several Incarnations. Only the righteous will live in Mount Zion, sealed by the covenant to the Almighty. Israel will dwell in Zion, but only the most righteous (144,000) chosen ones will live in Mount Zion, which is reserved for Jah's specially chosen sons and daughters. The most upright elders and Priest9 will reign with the Almighty, the Most High, around about his Rainbow circle throne. The steadfast will dwell in Mount Zion and the great crowd of Afrikans and remnants of other races will dwell in the hola land of Zion.
The second edition of “African American Religious History: A Documentary Witness,” covers the religious experiences of African Americans—from the late eighteenth century until the early 1980s. My paper is written in a chronological order to reflect on the progress blacks have made during the years—by expounding on the earliest religion of Africans to black religion of today. Race Relation and Religion plays a major role in today’s society—history is present in all that we do and it is to history that African-Americans have its identity and aspiration.
The two religions of Rastafarianism and Judaism embody many of the same characteristics, as well as their ancestry. Although the Rastafarians, at times, inaccurately explain the bible, their belief in the Old Testament is still prevalent. Many of the customs are almost identical, but the rationale behind the traditions and laws contrast greatly.
The Caribbean is comprised of a group of island. Jamaica is one of the greatest Antilles. It has a tropical climate. Each country has its own culture, Jamaicans is not an exemption, and they have an assorted and distinctive one. “Their culture is a complex mixture of African, Arabic, European, East Indian, and Chinese roots combining together to create a rich, dynamic heritage” (Gall, 2009).
Those who are uneducated in what exactly the Rastafarian lifestyle contains may think that Rastafarians are people who have dreads, people who only wear pan-Africanism colors, and people who inhale narcotics while listening to reggae music. True Rastafarians are those who follow the doctrine of Haile Selassie I, even though Haile Selassie I never regarded himself as a god, nor did he adhere to the Rastafari lifestyle. Marcus Garvey is the one people are holding responsible with the adaption of Rastas regarding Selassie as a god. I was also surprise that Skopal only mentioned Ethiopia but once or twice when, Ethiopia is the foundation of the Rastafari ideology. Rastafari’s believe that Hallie Selassie I was the second coming of my Christian savior
10. Yawney, Carole D. Moving with the dawtas of Rastafari: from myth to reality. pgs. 15--23; 33--55; and 65--73. (excerpts from Teresa Turner's New Society.)
Numerous amounts of religious groups have started and developed from experiences which have happened to them in the past. For example, Judaism and Rastafarianism are two religious sects which have been formed from former events which created and helped start these religions. There is also a strong tie between these two religions because they are two groups which have been oppressed and persecuted in the past which helped them unite and become one. Until the nineteenth century the Jews, even though they were white, lived a life which shared the same status of the Blacks. The Jews and Blacks were both subjected to slavery because they were a little bit different. It was also said the first Israelites were black, being the first Jews. Another strong bond between these two groups is the belief of repatriation, which is to return to the country of origin or allegiance, being it Ethiopia (Africa) for the Rastas and Israel for the Jews.
The Harlem Renaissance also obtained the notoriety expeditiously that participants of this movement needed to modify America’s perspective of black environments. To sum up, the Harlem Renaissance “New Negro Movement” was a cultural movement that celebrated black life and culture. This movement assisted in gaining a new significance and vigorous race relations in the United States. It awakened black communities all over the world-- especially Harlem-- to utilize their gifts and talents and make the best of it. Initially, the “Harlem Renaissance” derives from the fact that Harlem served as a symbolic capital of the cultural awakening—a dynamic crucible of cultural cross-fertilization.
The core principle of history is primary factor of African-American Studies. History is the struggle and record of humans in the process of humanizing the world i.e. shaping it in their own image and interests (Karenga, 70). By studying history in African-American Studies, history is allowed to be reconstructed. Reconstruction is vital, for over time, African-American history has been misleading. Similarly, the reconstruction of African-American history demands intervention not only in the academic process to rede...
The story of the state of Israel began with a man named Abraham, and a promise that God made to him. God told him to leave his homeland, promising Abraham and his descendants a new home in the land of Canaan, known as present day Israel(Rich, 1). Abraham was a firm believer in God, and decided to carry out his commands, since he knew God would be able to fulfill His promise to him. It was here, that God gave Abraham a unique homeland for his descendents to form a model nation. In the Torah, The Land of Israel was claimed to be the only place on the earth where the Jewish people could create the model nation(Spiro, 1). Jews desired to fulfill God’s plan to create the model nation, forming a strong connection between the land and the people for all eternity. Nonetheless, the Jews have not always been in political control of Israel; foreign nations had always been attacking the land...
Many people throughout the world have a hard time understanding what it means to be a Rasta. For some their troubles in understanding Rasta’s come because they look as Rastafari as only a religion. When one does this they run into many problems. This is because Rastafari is much more than a religion. It is a way of life, a social movement, as well as a mind set. Another reason why western people have a hard time understanding Rastafari is because the movement lacks the structure that the western world is use to.
Around 1890, one of the biggest events in US History occurred when large number of groups of African Americans left the South for a different location. They were tired of feeling undeserving and decided to move to the Urban North. When they arrived, many were heart-broken that they let others opinions make them leave their homes for their personal reasons. After grieving over their loss of their pride, they decided to take it back by sharing experiences with each other and reawake the African American culture. They used their trials as a testimony for who they have become. This led to the birth of The Harlem Renaissance. (ushistory.org)
The strength of Pan-Africanism, at its height, came from its numbers — the support from the black community was extremely high. What drew this overwhelming support was the message of self-worth and a chance of self-identity throughout the African diaspora. Dubois and Garvey both held and promoted the belief that, as an alienated citizen in Ameri...
In the larger national community the black culture fought to be part of and not subservient to the white community and the Harlem Renaissance was a way of trying to get into the mainstream.
Despite the often negative image projected in the press and other writings, the Rastafarian movement has grown at a rapid rate. In 1977, an estimated 75,000 native Jamaicans were followers of Rastafari (Davis and Simon, Reggae Bloodlines, 63). By 1988, Barrett conservatively calculated the membership of the worldwide movement to be 300,000 (2). Forsythe observed that Rastafarianism "represents a growing force wherever sizable West Indian communities are found--in Britain, Canada, the USA and in the Caribbean" (63).
Rastafari is a theology based upon the writings of Marcus Garvey a Jamaican social activist. The movement’s global spread from Jamaica across the world has been strongly influenced by Bob Marley and closely associated with reggae. Many of Marley’s songs captured the essence of Rastafari religion and its social and political beliefs. (bbc.co.uk, 2014)