Spirit resides in all mankind (Onuora, 2013), all men are essentially equal. Before being coroneted under the name “Haile Selassie I” which means “The Power of the Trinity, Lord of Lords, King of Kings,” Haile Selassi I went by Ras Tafari Makonnen (Ras meaning “Head” and Tafari being a family name) (Bernard, 2007). Hence, this is where Rastafari get their name (Lewis, 1994). Three men, Leon Howell, Archibald Dunkley and Joseph Hibbert, pushed forward the Rastafarian movement by preaching Haile Selassi I was the Black Messiah, as prophesized a decade before by Marcus Garvey, who told followers to look toward Africa where a Black king would be crowned (Davidson, 2008). It was Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey who advocated for a return to Africa,
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Enslaved African Jamaicans mostly worked on sugar cane plantations, fulfilling the demand for sugar in Europe (Sheridan, 1993). Such enslavement created a racial hierarchy constructed of Blacks at the bottom and Whites at the top (Bernard, 2007). In the middle, were mixed-race individuals with lighter skin but with partial Black and partial White heritage (Bernard, 2007). As most of the original domestic slaves were Black women, their White masters would have sexual relations with them, resulting in this mixed-race population that later also served as domestic servants and then, eventually constituted the middle class (Sheridan, 1993; Stoler, 1989). Thus, as the economic climate in Jamaica moved from slavery to indentured servitude to capitalism, the mixed race enjoyed more opportunity and privilege than Black Jamaicans (Bernard, 2007). Therefore, within this construct, the light-skinned mixed race more-easily and readily adopted European ways and became absorbed by the new economic system, whereas darker Jamaicans were left poor and marginalized (Lewis, …show more content…
Those include reasoning and groundation. The first is a discussion with Jah, wherein a small group of men gather and pass marijuana around in a clockwise direction as they smoke together (Barnett, 2002; Onuora, 2013). The man of honor initiates the ceremony by lighting the marijuana and making a statement (Onuora, 2013). Discussion then continues, as the men in the circle, one by one, consider liberation, justice, spiritualism, and social reform, building on and critiquing the statements that have already been offered by those before them (Barnett, 2002; Onuora, 2013). Groundation is a holy celebration consisting of dancing, singing, and feasting, in addition to smoking, which commemorates holy days and can last up to a week (Onuora, 2013). These holy days include the birthdays of Marcus Garvey, Leonard P. Howell, Haile Salessi I, and Bob Marley, as well as African Liberation Day, among several other significant occurrences relevant to Rastifarian history (Onuora,
Enslaved African Jamaicans mostly worked on sugar cane plantations, fulfilling the demand for sugar in Europe (Sheridan, 1993). Such enslavement created a racial hierarchy constructed of Blacks at the bottom and Whites at the top (Bernard, 2007). In the middle, were mixed-race individuals with lighter skin but with partial Black and partial White heritage (Bernard, 2007). As most of the original domestic slaves were Black women, their White masters would have sexual relations with them, resulting in this mixed-race population that later also served as domestic servants and then, eventually constituted the middle class (Sheridan, 1993; Stoler, 1989). Thus, as the economic climate in Jamaica moved from slavery to indentured servitude to capitalism, the mixed race enjoyed more opportunity and privilege than Black Jamaicans (Bernard, 2007). Therefore, within this construct, the light-skinned mixed race more-easily and readily adopted European ways and became absorbed by the new economic system, whereas darker Jamaicans were left poor and marginalized (Lewis, …show more content…
Those include reasoning and groundation. The first is a discussion with Jah, wherein a small group of men gather and pass marijuana around in a clockwise direction as they smoke together (Barnett, 2002; Onuora, 2013). The man of honor initiates the ceremony by lighting the marijuana and making a statement (Onuora, 2013). Discussion then continues, as the men in the circle, one by one, consider liberation, justice, spiritualism, and social reform, building on and critiquing the statements that have already been offered by those before them (Barnett, 2002; Onuora, 2013). Groundation is a holy celebration consisting of dancing, singing, and feasting, in addition to smoking, which commemorates holy days and can last up to a week (Onuora, 2013). These holy days include the birthdays of Marcus Garvey, Leonard P. Howell, Haile Salessi I, and Bob Marley, as well as African Liberation Day, among several other significant occurrences relevant to Rastifarian history (Onuora,