THE RASTAFARI COLLECTIVE--FEBRUARY ARCHIVES
BLACK AFRICAN HISTORY MONTH
The RastafarI Collective: An Interactive Paper Made by InI The People, For InI The People. "...learning only stops at the grave." H.I.M EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE I THE FIRST |
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Sunday, February 3, 2002 to Saturday, February 9, 2002 Volume 2 No. 11 WEEKLY EDITION |
FREE THE WORLD!!!
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IF BOB MARLEY WAS STILL HERE…..
6th Feb 1945 - 11th May 1981.
By BARBARA MAKEDA BLAKE HANNAH
Each year as February rolls around, so does the annual celebration of the birth of Jamaica’s unofficial National Hero, Bob Marley. Falling as it conveniently does in Black History Month, Bob’s birthday and the events hosted by his siblings in Bob Marley Week, give reasons for a serious look at the Rastafari movement in both a national and global context. This is in view of the fact that – of all the Rastafari who have ever existed – Marley is the most famous and the one whose life has had the most far-reaching global effect.
Marley internationalized reggae music as a vehicle of Black protest and revolution in the early 70’s. Echoing the feelings of the youthful urban poor with the angry anthems "Small Axe" "Three O’Clock Road Block" and "Johnny Was a Good Boy", Bob Marley and the Wailers were the original ghetto rude boys who dared to confront "the shitstem" with musical verse, expressing their outrage at the inequality and injustices which pervaded Jamaican life at the bottom of the social ladder.
MARLEY’S MUSICAL MESSAGES
At the same time as creating his musical revolution in the 70s, Marley activated the twin half of his life work, namely the internationalization of the Rastafari movement, religion and lifestyle. Marley sang the songs which explained Rastafari beliefs in the divinity of Emperor Haile Selassie I, in Repatriation to Africa, and in the victory of Good over Evil. "Three Little Birds", "Exodus", "Rastaman Chant" and the rare "Haile Selassie is the Chapel" were some of the most powerful of Bob’s religious messages. As the power of Rastafari swelled out of the countryside Nyabinghi tabernacles and the inner-city Kingston ghettoes, Bob Marley put a handsome, media-friendly face on the controversial movement and not only took Rastafari ‘uptown’ but overseas across the globe.
In the process, Bob became world famous, equaling and in many ways surpassing the global effect of other famous musicians such as The Beatles, Elvis or Michael Jackson, for Bob’s fame encompassed a religious philosophy which filled the yearning of the world’s oppressed peoples. His fame not only remained so following his passing 20 years ago, but increases in fame as the years increase.
My link with Bob Marley goes back to 1972, when I decided to return to live in Jamaica after spending 8 years in England. My last job has been as PR Officer for the international launch of THE HARDER THEY COME -- Jamaica’s first feature film which first exposed reggae and Rastafari to the world. Before I left England, the film’s backer Chris Blackwell asked me on my return to host some foreign journalists he had invited to Jamaica to check out the music scene then just bursting into reggae-rich creativity and meet a new group. The group he introduced me to was The Wailers, whose leader Bob became a friend of mine for the remainder of his life.
Looking back at Bob Marley in his life, it is interesting to speculate on what Bob would have thought about the Rastafari world that exists today, 20 years after his death.
THE JESUS CHRIST CONTROVERSY
I wonder what Bob would have thought about the two new Rastafari viewpoints that have emerged regarding that controversial historical figure -- Jesus Christ. In Bob’s time Rastafari viewed Emperor Haile Selassie as Christ reborn, a 20th Century MAN-ifestation of God living again on earth in human form. This belief formed the most controversial of all the Rastafari philosophical and spiritual principles, and caused orthodox Christians to regard Rastafari as heretics and fools. Yet, it was the foundation of most of his songs. Bob’s song "JAH LIVE!", created after the word spread that the Emperor had allegedly been assassinated, showed that Rastafari philosophy was not in any way altered by the news.
Today, 20 years later, Rastafari views on Jesus Christ have developed into two main streams. Leading one stream is the philosophy of the multi-racial Twelve Tribes of Israel, which states that Emperor Haile Selassie was not Christ but a man, that the Emperor is dead and that the the rightful occupant of the throne of Ethiopia whom Rastafari should honour and help restore to the monarchy, is the exiled Crown Prince Zara Jacob.
The other stream, led by Rastafari’s most outstanding folk philosopher Mutabaruka, dismisses the name "Jesus Christ", replacing it with the Hebrew "Yeshua" – claimed to be the correct name of the man of Nazareth who lived 2000 years ago. Refuting many Biblical stories and claims, the Bible is rejected as ‘a book of Christian myths" reworking immemorial truths. The Divinity of Emperor Haile Selassie I is not regarded as in any way linked to, or the result of, a previous existence as Jesus of Nazareth who attained the title of "Christ". Selassie I’s divinity stands on its own in the eyes of this Rastafari philosophical development.
What would Bob say about all this?
REPATRIATION AND REPARATIONS
30 years after "Exodus" became an anthem of the Repatriation movement, would Bob be disappointed at how little progress has been made? Would he be surprised that the original Rasta cry: "NO REPATRIATION WITHOUT REPARATIONS!" has been forgotten, and that some have set out on their own to repatriate to Africa and start a new life?
Looking down on the pioneering efforts of Rastas in Africa, would Bob have reminded them of the wisdom of the Elders, who realized that without massive funding, Repatriation would not be successful? Would Bob have urged I&I to make greater efforts to receive reparations for the unpaid labour of our ancestors, the exploitation of our Continent and Diaspora, and the impoverishment of our peoples?
WHITE RASTAS
The dynamism and growth of Rastafari philosophy, has also led to other changes which Bob would never have envisaged. I remember being at 56 Hope Road one day when Bob, Skill Cole and Seeko were speaking angrily to a blonde American teenager, telling her to leave the premises and go back home to America. The girl said she had come to Jamaica and to Bob Marley because she wanted ‘to become a Rasta’. Bob and his associates were telling her in strong terms that it was not possible for her to become a Rasta – it was a ‘movement of Black people, FOR Black people."
What would Bob think of the proliferation of "white Rastas" who have grown up since the global spread of Rasta reggae music in the 70s? Just as there is no country in which one cannot meet a traditional African-race Rasta, Rastafari has believers in practically every single race on earth. There are Rastafari White Americans, Jews, Europeans and South Africans, North and South Amerindians, Aboriginee tribes of New Zealand and Australia, Polynesians of Hawaii and the Phillipines, Japanese, Indians and Chinese Rastafari, carrying the message of Rastafari in multi-racial voices.
Many ask if non-Africans whose genes and family histories do not store memories of centuries of suffering and oppression of an entire race, can really become Rastas. Non-Black Rastas are asked if they feel the deep emotions that cause people of African descent to become Rastafari in order to educate, explore and develop their Black racial and spiritual consciousness. The growth of "white Rastas" seems peculiar, because the Rastafari philosophy is so directly aimed at Black people, so it is strange to hear non-Africans state with assurance the basic Rastafari belief that an African man is the Deity of their faith. What would Bob say, if he was to see the thousands of white people eager to identify with Rastafari – whether Rastafari like it or not.
Would Bob be surprised by the fact that, as a result of the proliferation of "white Rastas", some of them have reached important ‘heights’ of Rastafari life, hosting Rastafari seminars, Rastafari radio programmes, and Rastafari Internet websites that present Rastafari to the world? What would Bob think of the fact that Rastafari is now being taught as a graduate subject in white universities to white students by non-Rastafari professors? What would Bob think of the fact that Rastafari is now authenticated by an ‘academic dictatorship’ which has become an ‘authority’ over the movement, publishing books and presenting international academic papers which claim to accurately define Rastafari expression, but which always fall short of full accuracy because they are prepared by those who proudly remain ‘outsiders’ of the movement?
RED, GOLD AND GREEN COMMERCIALISATION
Would Bob be pleased to see how many non-Rastas make money selling Red, Gold and Green books, clothing, food, drink, art, craft and souvenirs? What would he think about the "Reggae Rum" or the "Lion of Judah Overproof White Rum" with Rasta emblems on their labels, created and sold by non-Rasta Jamaicans, with no protest whatsoever from the Rasta community?
I wonder what Bob would think about his song "One Love" becoming a Jamaican tourism anthem, and Rasta colours used to advertise Jamaica by its official agencies -- especially when there are no Rastas visible in the Jamaican tourism industry – neither at the top level management, not employed within the official industry, nor even by the national tourism agencies. I think Bob would have been horrified to see his song being stripped of its revolutionary conception and watered down to the mundane level of a "Yellow Bird". But I know Bob would be pleased to see that the Red, Gold and Green banner has become an ‘unofficial’ Jamaica flag, and that everybody – not just Rastas – are smoking ganja anywhere and everywhere.
ONE LOVE
Most of all, I wonder what Bob Marley would have thought of Jamaica today – burdened by a political divisiveness which has few solutions. Bob knows that Rastafari long ago offered a political solution based on the objective of uniting all I&I as Jamaicans in the "One Love" about which he sang.
"One Love, one heart; let’s get together and feel alright" was not written to invite tourists to enjoy hedonistic pleasures, but to invite Jamaicans, Black people, the world to come together in loving I-nity to bring peace and harmony for all mankind.
This is what has drawn people of all races to Rastafari. The revolutionary content of much of Bob’s work has been lost under the glossy packaging of record company’s boxed sets, while the coffee table books on Bob and reggae by non-Rastas have translated and re-presented Rastafari in a format more acceptable to a potentially racist white audience.
In the process, controversial but important aspects of Rastafari principles as Garveyism, Afro-centricity, Egyptology, repatriation, reparations and legalization of the ganja sacrament are hidden, while Marley’s half-white racial background and non-confrontational songs are promoted -- to the constant tinkle of an ever-flowing cash register. If it is true, as one report indicates, that the Bob Marley estate earns US$1 million PER DAY in revenues from the proliferation of Marley music and memorabilia, then it is clear that sales would decrease dramatically if Marley was to become identified with a form of Rasta that was too militant. Peter Tosh – with his unrepentant militant Rasta stance – suffered in life and death from what Bob’s musical handlers have been careful to avoid. Yet Bob was I&I original Rebel.
MARLEY’S POLITICAL LEGACY UNFULFILLED
Bob Marley left a political legacy which I&I, his brothers and sisters still in flesh, are yet to inherit – not just in Jamaica. Dreadlocks have become a fashion hairstyle for Blacks everywhere and even some whites, but do dreadlocks unite more Black people to join together to achieve political and economic goals as seriously as – say – Jews?
And what of Bob’s other ‘political heirs’ – the Rasta men and women of reggae who tour the world sharing Rasta philosophy in music and reaping economic rewards far beyond their expectations? Have they contributed financially to the much-needed development of the wider Rastafari community? Where are the Rasta banks, co-operative farms, schools and educational foundations, chains of Red, Gold and Green shops and ital restaurants, the media outlets to deliver Rastafari messages, music, films and more?
Where is the united Rasta political lobby which can force a government to act on Rastafari demands, because its large number speaks with one voice and is backed by other Rastafari power groups around the globe? Would Bob be depressed to find that these foundations which should have been well-established by now, are instead invested in personal real estate, luxury material goods and exclusive lifestyles?
And would Bob be surprised to discover that, despite the international population of Rastafari, there is no I-nity of prayer, no powerful global gathering together at regular pre-announced times to ‘chant down the walls of Babylon’?
What would Bob Marley think of all this, were he alive today?
ONE LOVE
Makeda........makeda@msn.com
"Emancipate yourself from mental slavery,
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
Cause none of them can stop the time….
Won’t you help to sing
These songs of Freedom
They’re all I ever had
Redemption songs."
Barbara Makeda Blake Hannah - is an author ('RASTAFARI - THE NEW CREATION'; 'JOSEPH - A RASTA REGGAE FABLE") film maker and journalist devoted to issues of Afro-centric culture and history. She operates The Rasta Information Service at website: The Rastafari Page - http://www.geocities.com/maskel2001 and is co-ordinator of the Jamaica Reparations Movement launched on February 3, 2002. She is mother of Makonnen Blake Hannah, who was appointed Youth Technology Consultant to the Jamaican government at the age of 13 years. She is interviewed on the official Bob Marley website: http://www.bobmarley.com/life/rastafari/. and invites those around the world to join herself and others and make Reparations a reality makeda@msn.com
article submitted by Trini Center
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The RastafarI Collective: An Interactive Paper Made by InI The People, For InI The People. "...learning only stops at the grave." H.I.M EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE I THE FIRST |
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Sunday, February 10, 2002 to Saturday, February 23, 2002 Volume 2 No. 12 WEEKLY EDITION |
FREE THE WORLD!!!
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As subjects of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I the First in one accord, INI (WE) offer our humble greetings to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her 50th anniversary of Royal Reign. As this is the official month of Black African History, it would be careless of us not to take this moment to remind you as the descendants of the Rt. Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey and the students of His Excellency Prince Emmanuel I Charles Edwards, Crown champion of Repatriation, that the debt owed to all Africans at home and abroad has yet to be paid. Though we the Babe and Suckling live and strive with the fundamentals provided in order to again see peace in a world that only knows war, the wrongs will still have to bow to the Right. As your reign hits its peak, and time is still longer than rope, we do hope as that future generation you will take heed to our simple demand. Our condolences to the Royal family in the untimely passing of Princess Margaret.
LETTER TO QUEEN SEEKS REPATRIATION TO ALLOW RASTAS TO RETURN TO AFRICA
Editor, The Tribune,
Kindly publish the enclosed letter which has been sent to Queen Elizabeth on behalf of the millions of ex-slaves exiled here in the West in the land of the sinking sand.
ARTHUR DION HANNA, JR.
NASSAU, SEPTEMBER 24, 1990.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace, England
May it please your Majesty,
In the Divine name of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I Jah RastafarI Elect of Himself, light of the world conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah, Selah I bring you greetings of Blessed love peace joy and mutual respect and understanding.
I take the liberty of addressing this letter to your Majesty on behalf of the countless in this region that are descendants of the fruit of the womb of mother Africa, kidnapped, murdered and enslaved in the west for the benefit of an unfeeling and uncaring capitalist machine (whose sole goal was profit at the expense of the blood, sweat, and tears of my ancestors). At the earliest dawn of time Africans lived one with nature and with their creator Jah RastafarI. In the name of Colonial expansion and dreams of an empire on which the sun would never set, their lands were seized by greedy speculative land barons under the authority of the crown and my ancestors were kidnapped and brought into exile here in the West in the land of the sinking sand.
Many chose the freedom awaiting in the jaws of sharks that trailed the slave ships across the middle passage rather than face the horrors of slavery in the west. Some 150 million of my people were lost in the horrors of the so-called middle passage. At the same time some of your great cities, such as Bristol and Liverpool, became prosperous and wealthy from the filthy profits of the ignoble slave trade.
The dreams of those held in abject bondage could be summed up in the words of the song "If I had the wings of a dove I would fly away home." This desire to return home lives today in the minds and souls of countless millions doomed to the despair of economic bondage and cultural deprivation in the West. This desire to fly away from the so-called colonies to return to our beloved Homeland has always been brutally answered and today many of our people are forced to suffer the indignity of overcrowded and unsanitary prisons that bear your Majesty's seal and the perpetual imprisonment of the ghettoes with sub-human living conditions and constant oppression by your Majesty's Police Force who have become known to I and I as Babylon because of the barbaric acts that they constantly carry out under the guise of law and order.
This is particularly so in the island of Jamaica but similar manifestations can be found throughout the so-called Caribbean region. Mother Africa is calling her children home but the uneven hand of your servants and or agents in the so-called Caribbean region weighs heavily on the backs of my people. This is just another attempt to stifle the legitimate desire of our people for real freedom and redemption through repatriation to our Mother Home Ethiopia Zion Africa I.
Today my people desire to return to our Homeland and they are demanding just compensation for the labour of our ancestors. This demand in my humble submission is not an unreasonable one and indeed it is one that is being echoed across the region; from Canada to the United States of America, to the Bahamas, to Jamaica, to St. Kitts, to Grenada to Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana to Brazil and beyond. Today my people have raised a common refrain: "When will we be paid?" as a matter of urgency. The economic crisis presently being experienced in the West is directly proportionate to the economic injustice of non-compensation for the exploitation of my people and the resources of mother Africa.
In this regard I would beseech your Majesty to advise your Prime Minister in the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher and her counterparts throughout the Commonwealth, to immediately deal with the pressing issue of reparations for my people at home and abroad, as the time has come for payment to my African people for all the shortchanging, abuse, victimization, bondage, oppression and slavery over the past 5 Centuries.
I would also be most grateful if you could kindly use your considerable influence on all world leaders including the President of the United States of America to likewise do the right thing and compensate my people exiled throughout the Diaspora. My Lord the Most High Jah Rastafari hath commanded that my people be set free and returned to their ancestral home in Mount Zion Ethiopia Africa without passports or payment by them of money of any kind in 7, 9, or 13 miles of Black Star Line Shipping Enterprises.
Thus it is today that we in the west who desire to repatriate to Mother Africa have been denied the birth right that is rightfully ours. For decades your Majesty and your Majesty's representatives have been petitioned by that champion for Human Rights for the downtrodden and the oppressed H.E. Prince Emmanuel I Charles Edwards from 10 miles Bull Bay, Jamaica. H.E. Prince Emmanuel I has called for the immediate release of all captives and prisoners and for reparations to be made for the brutal enslavement of the African people at home and abroad and also for the provision of 7, 9, or 13 miles Black Star Line Shipping for the ultimate repatriation of the scattered flock of Mother Africa Zion Ethiopia I; for Jah Rastafari the Root of Jesse (Selah) hath stretched forth his hand and called his Royal Sons and Daughters home in fulfillment of prophecy. Praise Jah Rastafari, the Root of Jesse hath stretched forth his hands and called the remnants home from the four corners of the earth including the islands of the sea. How can we sing King Alpha's song in this strange land as captive?
Adequate reparations will ensure the swift exodus of my people out of Babylon in 7, 9, or 13 miles of Black Star Line Shipping and Enterprise. Many say that the visions of repatriation are mere pipe-dreams but we know that we are not alone and from the very first slaveship to the present day many of my people have had a desire to repatriate and return home without passports or any form of payment for passage. This is indeed a just and noble aspiration and one which I would humbly submit is ripe for action. For all Rastafari brethren repatriation is a must and His Excellency Prince Emmanuel shepherd of Black redemption through repatriation.
Accordingly I would beseech your Majesty to accede to the constant petitions of my lord and let the children of almighty Jah Jah return to our own vines and fig trees on the blessed shores of mother Africa, and leave forever the land of the sinking sand with just compensation and reparations which will make our vision of repatriation a reality. For all Rastafari Brethren repatriation is a must and His Excellency Prince Emmanuel I Charles Edwards, praised be his blessed name, is shepherd of Black Redemption through Repatriation.
ARTHUR DION HANNA, JR.
Caribbean Human Rights Project
Nassau, June 21, 1990.
To send a message to Her Majesty, the following link can be used:
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page249.asp
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The RastafarI Collective: An Interactive Paper Made by InI The People, For InI The People. "...learning only stops at the grave." H.I.M EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE I THE FIRST |
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Sunday, February 24, 2002 to Saturday, March 2, 2002 Volume 2 No. 13 WEEKLY EDITION |
FREE THE WORLD!!!
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THE VOICE OF MARCUS GARVEY HEARD AT THE HISTORICAL BLACK FORUM 2002
On Saturday, February 23, 2002, Tavis Smiley along with Tom Joyner and a host of sponsors were blessed to have their 3rd annual Black Symposium in the Black African city of Philadelphia. The event was internationally televised on C-Span in its entirety. The topic of the 2-panel discussion (morning & afternoon) was "African American issues after September 11th: Where do we go from here, chaos or community?" This challenging question was debated by a variety of Black African voices in the Diaspora, such persons as Prof. Cornel West, Rev. Al Sharpton, Johnnie Cochran Jr., Prof. Michael Eric Dyson, Iyanla Vanzant, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rev. Bernice King, Rev. Gardner Taylor, Ibn Ali (age 16), Sonia Sanchez, Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, Kenneth Gamble, Stanley Crouch, Rep. Chaka Fattah, Na'im Akbar, Prof. Lani Guinier, Manning Marable, Hugh Price, Rev. James Forbes, Rev. Barbara King, Elaine Jones, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (age 30) and Derrick Blassingame (age 15).
The main points of discussion were the usual subjects of education, employment, Black leadership, self-training, racial profiling, Black churches, and reparations. The ironic twist is that many of these issues, as told by Mayor Kilpatrick of Detroit, were on the national agenda to be discussed before Sept. 11th and were conveniently downgraded after Sept. 11th. Barbara Lee, the only Black representative and government official who voted against the Pres. policies three days after 9-11, had received over 2000 death threats which were not from overseas terrorists. The two youngest panelists, Derrick Blassingame and Ibn Ali, contributed the voice of action by giving clear ideas and vowing to go forward even if it meant challenging the current Black leadership.
The most shocking idea that drew crowd silence was voiced by Stanley Crouch, who said it is probably now time that the idea be accepted to legalize drugs in the American society. His reasoning is that a majority of Black inmates are incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses. Mr. Crouch compared the illegality of drugs to the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s. These comments from Mr. Crouch are probably taken more serious being he is at most times, controversial to other Black voices.
Though there were many historical references used, the name and words of Marcus Mosiah Garvey were the most heard, even being quoted by Mayor Kilpatrick. The spirit of Black unity on an international scale can be seen at work. This forum caused all who are concerned to be fully aware of the stance of the Black African community internationally. By the whole world having the opportunity to Voice, hear and see the various personalities of the Black African nation, it puts the whole world on notice. As well as by dealing with the issue from the Black perspective on a dignified level, InI voice of optimism must rise. The words of collective security by H.I.M Emperor Haile Selassie I can and will be fulfilled.
InI the Babe and Suckling again state, the work of building our Black African nation is everyone's responsibility. In Zion, there is no partiality. Faith without works is still death. Little strength or big strength, all will have to push and pull. Education of ourselves in all fields and aspects with a heart of Jah love will provide.
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Sister Barbara Makeda Blake Hannah's reasonment caused much self reflection to take place in Orlando area.. POZITIVE REALITY
(Journey in Truth)
02/12/2002
The following information is being distributed to the community at large because of the response received during the airing of Roots Uprising at 91.5 FM on Sunday, February 10, 2002 (12:00 noon - 2:00 PM) in the Greater Orlando Area. InI realize the great controversy it has brought to light but at the same time InI in professing Rastafari as InI livity must move in the same direction as His Imperial Majesty in dealing with the livity and that is with Truth and Right to the fullness.
InI also wish to clarify an issue which seems to prevail within the house of Rastafari and the issue of "White Rastas" in response to many of the calls InI got during the airing of the reading of the reasonment by Sister Barbara Makeda Blake Hannah. During the 1960s when the Civil Rights Movement was at its height, there were many Europeans who were sympathizers to the cause. They were not the ones who had to "sit at the back of the bus" and they were not the ones who were affected by the "Jim Crow" laws that European-Americans had instilled against their black brothers and sisters, but they still participated in the cause. During the enslavement period of InI trod on this earth plane, there were many "abolitionists" who were sympathetic to the cause. Now in the light of Rastafari there are many brothers and sisters of European ancestry who are very sensitive to the cause of truth and right for the African race in their struggle for freedom of the mind, soul and spirit back into the cradle of their blackness. In the African context it is called Sankofa-the reaching back to embrace the essence of African consciousness in order to move forward to our rightful place in the sphere of humanity. In this new Millennium it is the call of Rastafari. If you check history, you will find many times while a great majority of those of European ancestry were and are the bigots and racists perpetuating inequality among the races, there were still the few who were sympathizers to InI cause and truly saw the light of the brother/sisterhood of man. We have some of those right now within the Rastafari movement.
His Majesty did bring forth the reasonment that "until a color of a man's eyes is of no significance", etc., etc., as well as many other humanitarian statements in reference to the treatment of Africans in general. These humanitarian statements must not be taken out of the context of His general intent. His Imperial Majesty has given InI a blueprint for InI livity as far as how to know oneself, and conduct oneself in striving for the betterment of the African race and the human race in general. His Imperial Majesty also gave us these words of wisdom . . . "Throughout history it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most that has made it possible for evil to triumph" (said in an opening statement to the special session of the U.N. general assembly held in Addis Ababa October 4, 1963).
To all professing Rastafari (African, European, Asian, Hindu, etc., etc.) it is imperative that you have within your household The Selected Speeches of H.I.M. which can be obtained through the Ethiopian World Federation New York chapter. Maybe then all will see that not only is H.I.M. the humanitarian fighting for the cause of right for all but that first and foremost H.I.M. is an African fighting for the resurrection of the African's rightful place in the human family-to the fullness! As we move forward in this new Millennium, in the memorable words of Negus Anubweli . . . "As we say we love His Majesty, we must learn his reasonment"-to the fullness!
Because European ideology and standards have been dominating the set for so long, we must strip away the premise that because Africans are learning to love themselves that they hate Europeans because this is not so. Rastafari has shown this reality to be but a fallacy. In knowing oneself and loving oneself one can love others. "The truth may be an offence but it is not a sin"--so Bob say! Racism was brought into fruition by the European mindset. Rastafari does not perpetuate this mindset. Rastafari does bring forth the consciousness that "THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO FIGHT AN ALIEN CULTURE IS TO LIVE YOUR OWN"!!!! InI don't exclude anyone who wishes to uphold the righteous livity of Rastafari. History as well as present day reality shows that there are and always will be proselytes (i.e., one who converts from one belief/creed, etc., to another). Rastafari does recognize though the commercialization of Rastafari to the point that many try to make it solely a commodity to be bought and sold.
This reasonment coming forward in the midst of not only the memorial of Bob Marley's Earthday as well as Black History Month as celebrated in many places of the West is a reality check for Rastafari to the fullness. Back in 1997 Brother Leahcim Semaj made a very cogent statement . . . that Rastafari needed a new faculty of interpretation or else it would become stagnant (InI paraphrase here conversation he had with Mutabaruka which was brought to light in one of the major Jamaican newspapers). This reality must be realized that much of what we have been taught and even within the doctrine of the original beliefs of Rastafari have to be refined and fine-tuned to the fullness in the light of truth, not half truth, but the whole truth for the most dangerous form of a lie is the half-truth because it can be defended in part by incontestable logic. As we live in a time where partial truths are the norm, until this is remedied, we will suffer the inevitable consequences of division among ourselves as Africans and among the human family as a whole. Africans have been fed and are fed half-truths daily about themselves. Rastafari is one of the movements bringing forth the truth through the light of His Imperial Majesty-an African. In speaking on Rastafari, the Elder Ras Sam Brown put it much better than I could ever say . . . "We are those destined to free not only scattered Black peoples but all people, animals, herbs and all life forms". This is Rasta Philosophy . . . who have eyes will see!
ROOTICALLY . . . Sister Makeda I. Adebisi
Roots Uprising airs Sundays 12:00 noon - 2:00 PM on 91.5 FM in the Greater Orlando Florida Area rootsuprising@yahoo.com
Goodness from the Ground Up . . . Sowing Seeds of Change
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