Rasta - Get to Know the History
The beginning of the Rastafarian movement is somewhat uncertain.
The organization of the movement is said to have taken a firm hold in the 1930's with a prophecy by Marcus Garvy the founder of the organization know as the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
Garvey founded this organization in 1914 with the goal to unite all people of African ancestry of the world to one great body to establish a country and absolute government of their own.
Garvey also thought all Africans should have the chance to return to Africa if they so choose.
Garvey traveled to Jamaica looking for support for his movement and organization unfortunately he found very little.
Upon deciding to leave the country and head to England in 1927 he is credited by saying in his farewell speech "Look to Africa where a black king shall be crowned, he shall be your Redeemer" this prophecy was mostly forgotten until the crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie 1 in Ethiopia in 1930.
Rastafarians see this as the fulfillment of the prophecy and take their name from Haile Selassie's original name (Ras Tafari Makonnen ).
Rastafarians believe he is the Black Messiah Jah Rastafari a figure of salvation who will redeem blacks from their white oppressors and reunite them with their native homeland.
Leonard P.
Howell is thought to be the first rasta and responsible for establishing the first organized branch of Rastafari in Jamaica in the early part of the 1930's.
His message included the belief that Ras Tafari was the messiah returned to earth.
This branch marked the first uniting of the Rastafarians and it paved the way for the continuing movement to bring hope and freedom for the black race.
From its inception the Rastafarian movement was looked down on by the establishment in Jamaica.
Howell was persecuted, vilified and jailed for his teachings yet his movement gained strength.
His constant problems with the established authorities resulted in many raids and the lost of considerable information on his writings and history.
Howell bought 500 acres in Saint Catherine Parish located on the south east side of Jamaica.
He formed this land into a commune for the followers of Rasta and gave it the name Pinnacle.
This caused a mini exodus from the slums and tenements of Jamaica with many moving to the new nation.
In 1954 the constant persecution came to a head with the police raid and destruction of the Pinnacle commune.
Howell continued his preaching up until his death.
In 1966 Emperor Haile Selassie 1 visited Jamaica.
The entire country as a whole greeted him with vast enthusiasm helping further the Rastafarian movement.
Because of Howell's teachings his visit was considered a great honor for Jamaica and especially the Rastafari.
Selassie however was a devoted Christian and it is not known what if any affiliation he had with the Rastafarian movement.
In 1974 A Marxist revolution deposed Emperor Haile Seassie 1 forcing his exile to England he died a year later under mysterious circumstances.
Without a doubt the development of reggae music gave the Rasta movement its greatest visibility.
Bob Marley a student of Howell's and his music inspired and brought the beliefs of the Rastafarian movement to an international stage.
The wailers as they are known today were formed in 1966 and their influence has grown despite the untimely death of the groups founder.
Today Reggae music has helped keep the Rastafarian movement in the forefront of modern society.
The use of the Rasta colors for those who know its meaning bring a very powerful voice to the belief of the Rastafarian movement of universal love and belief in ones self and value.
The organization of the movement is said to have taken a firm hold in the 1930's with a prophecy by Marcus Garvy the founder of the organization know as the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
Garvey founded this organization in 1914 with the goal to unite all people of African ancestry of the world to one great body to establish a country and absolute government of their own.
Garvey also thought all Africans should have the chance to return to Africa if they so choose.
Garvey traveled to Jamaica looking for support for his movement and organization unfortunately he found very little.
Upon deciding to leave the country and head to England in 1927 he is credited by saying in his farewell speech "Look to Africa where a black king shall be crowned, he shall be your Redeemer" this prophecy was mostly forgotten until the crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie 1 in Ethiopia in 1930.
Rastafarians see this as the fulfillment of the prophecy and take their name from Haile Selassie's original name (Ras Tafari Makonnen ).
Rastafarians believe he is the Black Messiah Jah Rastafari a figure of salvation who will redeem blacks from their white oppressors and reunite them with their native homeland.
Leonard P.
Howell is thought to be the first rasta and responsible for establishing the first organized branch of Rastafari in Jamaica in the early part of the 1930's.
His message included the belief that Ras Tafari was the messiah returned to earth.
This branch marked the first uniting of the Rastafarians and it paved the way for the continuing movement to bring hope and freedom for the black race.
From its inception the Rastafarian movement was looked down on by the establishment in Jamaica.
Howell was persecuted, vilified and jailed for his teachings yet his movement gained strength.
His constant problems with the established authorities resulted in many raids and the lost of considerable information on his writings and history.
Howell bought 500 acres in Saint Catherine Parish located on the south east side of Jamaica.
He formed this land into a commune for the followers of Rasta and gave it the name Pinnacle.
This caused a mini exodus from the slums and tenements of Jamaica with many moving to the new nation.
In 1954 the constant persecution came to a head with the police raid and destruction of the Pinnacle commune.
Howell continued his preaching up until his death.
In 1966 Emperor Haile Selassie 1 visited Jamaica.
The entire country as a whole greeted him with vast enthusiasm helping further the Rastafarian movement.
Because of Howell's teachings his visit was considered a great honor for Jamaica and especially the Rastafari.
Selassie however was a devoted Christian and it is not known what if any affiliation he had with the Rastafarian movement.
In 1974 A Marxist revolution deposed Emperor Haile Seassie 1 forcing his exile to England he died a year later under mysterious circumstances.
Without a doubt the development of reggae music gave the Rasta movement its greatest visibility.
Bob Marley a student of Howell's and his music inspired and brought the beliefs of the Rastafarian movement to an international stage.
The wailers as they are known today were formed in 1966 and their influence has grown despite the untimely death of the groups founder.
Today Reggae music has helped keep the Rastafarian movement in the forefront of modern society.
The use of the Rasta colors for those who know its meaning bring a very powerful voice to the belief of the Rastafarian movement of universal love and belief in ones self and value.
