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Rastafarianism Essay

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Rastafarianism Rastafarianism began as a religion of the dispossessed. In 1930, a prophecy of deliverance was fulfilled for Jamaica’s slum-dwellers and rural poor. Ethiopia symbolized Africa and the homeland for the slave-descended Jamaicans. Ras Tafari Makennen, in 1930, became Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Emperor Selassie claimed to be a direct descendent of King Solomon. Many Jamaicans were waiting for a black messiah. Selassie, who at his coronation was proclaimed Negusa Negast (King of Kings), and whose imperial name meant “Power of the Holy Trinity”, seemed to be the one. A core group of Jamaicans believed Selassie was the “Living God of Abraham and Isaac/ He Whose Name Should Not Be Spoken.” They took on his …show more content…

In the present, Rastas feel blacks are held down by poverty, illiteracy, inequality, and trickery by the white man. To stand up against this Babylon, Rastas want to remind blacks of their heritage. “Heaven on earth”, in Rastafarian belief, is in Africa and especially Ethiopia. There’s no afterlife. A black Exodus to Ethiopia will occur in the future. This Exodus will begin after a signal from Jah. This means that Rastafarians are very focused on any news from Ethiopia. As a result, Jamaican blacks have looked more deeply into their African heritage. Red, gold, green, and black are Rastafarian colors. Red stands for Church Triumphant, which is the Church of the Rastas. It also stands for the blood of martyred Rastas. Gold represents the wealth of the homeland. Green symbolizes the beauty and vegetation of the Ethiopia, the “promised land.” Black is used to represent the African people. “He causeth the grass for cattle and the herb for the service of man,” Psalm 104:14. Rastas use this scripture and others as the basis for their use of “ganja.” Regarded as “wisdomweed,” Rasta leaders urge that “ganja” be smoked by followers as a religious rite and aid to meditation. A potent strain of “ganja” or marijuana grows in abundance on Jamaica. It grows wild, providing a good supply for Rastas spiritual and medicinal purposes. Rastas eat I-tal food. I-tal food is chemical free and not canned. Though cooked,

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