Rastafarianism and the Impact on the World

Haile Selassie was born Tafari Mekanon in the late 1800 's in the African country Ethiopia. He was crowned king, or "Ras" Tafari in the 1930 's, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Marcus Garvey decades earlier has he proclaimed, "look to the east for the coming of a black king." Marcus Garvey is looked at in the Rastafarian moveMent as the biblical Moses since he was not only one of the greatest advocates for black repatriation in the Western World but also since he prophetically introduced and announced the coming of the Messiah. When the early Rasta's heard of the crowing of King Selassie-they knew that Marcus's prophecy was fulfilled.

Rastafarianism and the Impact on the World

Rastafarianism and the Impact on the World

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Rastafarianism and the Impact on the World

Rastafarianism and the Impact on the World

Early Rastafarians were not accepted by the Jamaican population at large. They were looked at as dirty and grimy Menthat lived in the hills and used drugs, mainly Ganja, spoke against the government and believed in Jah Rastafari over Jesus. Many early rastas where persecuted by their Jamaican countrymen for their religious believes. Rastas where also targeted by the police and government officials since they did not follow the with the "clean cut" majority and where known to use ganja. Early accusations where made against the Rastafarian's in the 30 's and 40 's as criminals and many robberies, murders, engrapes and other crimes where pinned on the early rastas without any proof. Discrimination continued throughout the ensuing decades as families where ties broken when members joined the Rastafarian's and police where known to kidnap rastas, cut their dreadlocks off and return them to their homeswith shaved heads.

The Rastas, though, where peace loving, and positive people, who practiced more moral good than many Jamaicans who discriminated against them. Strict Rastafarian's do not use alcohol, and Jamaica is well known for its spicy rums. Strict Rastafarian's do not eat red meet either, and Jamaicans are also known for barbecued meets. These rasta men practice a lifestyle that is similar to the biblical tradition of the Nazarenes "where they would take abstinence against many of lives pleasures. As the 1950 's approached Jamaica-Rastafarianism was become more and more popular and soon the nyabinghi warrior sounds that were being chanted in the hills of Jamaica by rastas was about to make an entry to the city and Jamaican pop culture and soon the world.

Rastafarianism and the Impact on the World