A Conversation for Rastafarianism

I wonder...

Post 1

Archibald (Harry) Tuttle considered a radical HVAC technician, Zaphodista, Descent3 pilot

Can you be a Rastafarian if you are white? I listen to reggae a lot and have even read a little about Marcus Garvey and Rastafarianism, I have been to a Luciano concert receintly and years ago had the pleasure of seeing Peter Tosh live. Many times in many songs and in talk by Peter Tosh, Rastas refer to their linkage to the first man, to the original people of the world, as spoken of in the Ethiopia of the bible. Can a caucasian say with any authority "Jah Rastafar I"?


I wonder...

Post 2

Sam

Mmmmm... interesting question. I've met a couple of white Jamaicans who spoke with very broad Jamaican accents, but I can't remember if they were Rastas or not. Also, Bob Marley was half white - his Dad, Captain Marley, was Scottish, I think (although I'm not 100% sure).

Sam.smiley - smiley


I wonder...

Post 3

Matt - Zaphodista and swashbuckling pirate of the "Blood of the Zaphodistas"

yeah, that's an interesting question, and I don't know if you can say that there is a straightforward answer... Since there is few or none so-called "confessions of faith" among the rastas (at least that I know about), there are really more or less up to each one to mean what he/she likes, so while some may say "no - it's impossible", others would say "yes of course".

Actually, one of the few organizations among the rastas: "The twelve tribes of Israel", among whom Bob Marley became a member, has "members" from all over the world, no matter what skin color you have... I was also listening to an interview on a jamaican radio station a couple of years ago, when one prominent rasta exclaimed as a sort of conclusion for a debate that "we are all Ethiopians", which also makes us all (at least "spiritually") in a way originally from Africa.

If you ask me, I would say yes it's possible, it's up to you...

Then again, I am not really a rasta, and it's only my personal view.... smiley - smiley

Hope this rather longish answer made things a bit more clearer for you smiley - huh, at least that's the purpose of it all.... smiley - smileysmiley - cheers

...and that you haven't already fallen smiley - zzz ...


I wonder...

Post 4

Archibald (Harry) Tuttle considered a radical HVAC technician, Zaphodista, Descent3 pilot

I have never heard of "The twelve tribes of Israel" I will have to do a little looking up. I'm not sure that I would ever call myself a Rastafarian but I do feel a lot of sympathy for the Caribian black population. Their ancestors were taken from their homeland, robbed of their inheritance, shipped to a foriegn land under the most brutal conditions possible and when their usefullness ended on the plantations they were "set free" with no land to support them. A return to an African homeland must seem very appealing. I guess what I admire the most is the rejection of the "isms and schisms" of the modern world, the vision that the drive for material possessions and political dominace is a trap meant to ensure the oppression and division of their people. As their saying goes "In the abundace of water, only the fool is thirsty." The Carribean Islands are a paradise with enough resources to sustain the population in a moderate subsistance economy but the land is not owned by the black population, instead wealthy North Americans have bought up the land for their own purposes and the locals must compete among themselves to survive. A group of fuzzy thinking, back to the land, idealistic, eutopians for sure. But I enjoy their hymns to Jah's glory and admire their strength in standing against the world's currents.


I wonder...

Post 5

Researcher 207523

Surely part of Rastafarianism is that "the colour of a man's [or woman's] skin is of no more significance than the colour of his [or her] eyes" - so anyone can be a Rastafarian. The question is whether you (like me) are just into the music and sympathise with the beliefs, or whether you really believe in Jah Rastafari and that HIM Haile Selassie was (is?) the Conquering Lion of Judah. Personally I think it's a mistake to adopt other people's beliefs as your own, as opposed to sympathising with them or seeing them as analogous to your own beliefs. Does what you believe in have to have a name?


I wonder...

Post 6

badger party tony party green party

I personally would never promote any religion to anyone.

Having said this my experince of rastas is that they welcome people regardless of their skin colour or the culture they were born into.

On a prctical note I will say that when I had long dreadlocks I did have some greif from some idiots because I was a "fake dread" but like I say they were idiots.

Being crushed by the wheels of industry and transported into slavery are not experiences unique to African-Carribeans, they are the sufferances that have spawned many religions and strengthened peoples belief over many centuries.


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