Rastafarianism

[EL OBiSPO]

I have a couple of questions on rastafarianism

1) could someone please post the link to an informative website on rastafarianism for me?

2) Is it possible for a white person to be a rastafarian? I don't intend on becoming one but it is something I'd like to know.

3) Rastafarian hats, would a rastafarian take offence if someone who was not a rastafarian wore one? I love the hat designs and want to buy one but if I thought it was going to upset someone of that culture I wouldn't dream of wearing one.

Thanks in advanced for your replies,
EL OBiSPO

[General A.A.Vlasov]

Ask your questions to Rastafari - the user of this forum... ;)

[Ernestocheguevara]

A good book on this subject is : Leonard Howell and the rise of rastafarianism by Helene lee avaliable @ amazon.com,
Try some of these sites mate:

http://www.knowdeep.org/rastafarianism

http://hem1.passagen.se/perdavid/rastafar.htm

http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu.../nrms/rast.html (http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/rast.html)

Hope this is of help 2 u?!?!?!?!?!

ECG--

[Jesus Sanchez]

I too would like these question anwered.

[Rasta Sapian]

1st lesson, smoke erb mon, a rastaman smokes everyday!
2nd lesson, give thanks and praise to jah and let the light shine in!
3rd lesson, don't commit sin, rastafarian can do no wrong!
4th lesson, treat women the way they want to be treated!
5th lesson, the reggae beat, the music moves your feet, its ja life, peace yall

question: can you feel the positive vibration?

[canikickit]

I think your questions are all dependant on the individual rasta.
I'm quite sure that most rastas today will be very open to the idea of a white rasta, "Rasta is all about love" is one of the common discriptions, and white people can fit that bill. I should know.

However, Rastafarianism is steeped in African culture, and is centred around the idea of a spiritual return to Africa. Obviously people, regardless of the colour of their skin, can get this sort of "vibe" and can appreciate and understand African culture, but it's not real the same, is it?

There's also not supposed to be any "becoming" a rasta. You is or you ain't. It's just your outlook on life.

I don't know about wearing a hat...if someone is going to be offended be such a thing, they've got plenty of other problems.

I do think it a good idea that if someone wore such a hat, or indeed, grew dreadlocks, it would be good to learn the history and what they represent.

[Rastafari]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30 2003, 11:13 PM
I think your questions are all dependant on the individual rasta.
I'm quite sure that most rastas today will be very open to the idea of a white rasta, "Rasta is all about love" is one of the common discriptions, and white people can fit that bill. I should know.

As the whole "Bob Marley" cult picks up in Japan, Asian Rastas are apparently becomming more and more common.
That's funny for some reason (especially since some of the live concert bootlegs can only be imported from Japan. You'd die if you saw their version of the lyrics for something like "Them Belly Full (But We Hungly)" or "I Shot the Sheliff").

[RedComrade]

Orthodox Rastafarians would tell you that no white man could ever be a Rastafarian, indeed Leonard Howell one of the founder of Rastarianism defined the six pillars of Rasta as follows:

Hatred for the white race.

The complete superiority of the black race.

Revenge on whites for their wickedness.

The negation, persecution, and humiliation of the government and legal bodies of Jamaica.

Preparation to go back to Africa, and

Acknowledging Emperor Haile Selassie as the Supreme Being and only ruler of black people

Now obviously most modern Rastafarians dont beleive that stuff, indeed Rastafarianism is extremely rare, many so called Rastafarians are in name only, they sport the red, green, and yellow as well as dread locks with no idea of the meaning of these symbols. Im sure there might be a few Rastafarians out there who would argue that it is theoretically possible for a white man to be a Rastafarian but it wouldnt make much sense.

[SgtPepper369]

I got most of my "Rasta Knowlage" out of bobmarley.com so I don't think it's good enough. But I think that some of their Ideas I could go with.

[tigermb]

try www.earthcultureroots.com as well

I believe there aint exact rules for bein Rasta. Dread locks and ganja arent really neccessary. Neither bein black ->
"That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes" by Ras Tafari himself.
So rasta killing whites are doin pretty wrong. Herb is a tradition that comes from the Native Americans and probably African cultures as well. Actually it's also in the bible, check the site i added for the exact places.
I agree with RedComrade that many rastas are just in name. A rasta can't drink alcohol, but i seen many drinking anyway.


---

"That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained;" - Haile Selassi I

[RedAnarchist]

Humanity originates from Africa, so we all have links to Africa. It is the Mother Continent.

[CommunistRob]

I'm somewhat of a Rasta.I don't think it would be wrong if a white man was a rasta but he wont be a true rasta.Rastafarianism is based strongly on returning to africa and black empowerment i don't think that would make much sense for a white man to be a rasta same as if a white man joined the nation of islam it wouldn't make sense.

[Invader Zim]

I know very little about Rastafarianism and care even less, however I do know that Haile Selassie was an idiot, who managed to not only get flattened by the Italians but also managed to get the League of Nations to do absolutly fuck all about it. Sorry but what a complete loser.

[Hate Is Art]

It's cos Britain and France were to busy protecting their own interests to stop Mussolini from invading Abbsyinia. Haille appelead to the League and it was eventually decreed to split the country in half with the best parts going to Italy and the worst to Haille.

[Umoja]

After reading much of his Autobiography he seemed far smarter, but didn't anticipate the fact that all Europeans weren't to be trusted, not just Italy. The reforms he made were also interesting, because he wanted to rise to the status of a European nation in a short time. Ironically Europeans attacked much of their culture, especially "slavery" which was a complicated concept in Ethiopia.

[tigermb]

Rass klaat man, Haile Selassi wasnt a complete idiot. He had no chance against the italians.
The good thing I know about him is that he kept the country united.
When he died and the commies took it over it became a mess.
I absolutely dont say Haile Selassi had good ideas, cuz he did opresse the people at the end.

[Umoja]

Actually, he was becoming buddy-buddy with the Soviets in the 70's. If you read "Introduction to African Civilization" and get the version copyright 1974, you'd think Halle Sellassie and the Soviets got along perfectly.

[tigermb]

Thanks for the tip. So Haile Selassi was a kinda leftist ruler?

[Umoja]

He was probubly anti-Western more then Leftist. He was a monarch, but at the same time he did accidently lead to his own undoing by becoming friendly with a Marxist country.