Michael Manley and Rastafarianism Essay - 3781 Words

Michael Manley and Rastafarianism Jamaica and it’s people have been involved in a constant struggle for prosperity. After gaining independence from Britain on August 6, 1962, Jamaica attempted to flourish under a democratic system of their own. The formation of the People’s National Party and the Jamaica Labor Party marked the beginning of this movement. During this time of exploration, Rastafarians residing in Jamaica were faced with little political support. Government objectives and reform were generally not concerned with the plight of the Rastafarians, and they were treated as a group of vigilantes. Michael Norman Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1972-1980 and 1989-1992, was the first political figure to provide support†¦show more content†¦Norman Manley was the original founder of the PNP, chief minister of Jamaica from 1955-1959, and prime minister from 1959-1962. With the 1972 election quickly approaching, the PNP began campaigning for Manley. It was at this time that they set two primary goals: 1. Not to rock class coalition 2. To gain support of the traditional Christian community and the Rastafarian community. One Jamaican historian said, The reality of the Rasta’s cannot be ignored by the politicians: their voice is the voice of the people and the success or failure of Jamaican leaders henceforth must grapple with the power of these modern day John the Baptists whose voices call out from the electronic wilderness. (rg pg 174) With these goals in mind, Manley began to attend rallies, and speak about promised election pledges. These pledges were critical to his campaign because they represented many hopes of the Rastafarians. Among the stated pledges were: legislation requiring parliamentarians to declare their assets publicly annually in order to counter corruption; a fixed formula for the distribution of government jobs to end victimization; permanent voter registration centers and voting rights for 18-20 year olds; Parliament to be restored as the center of government activity; no electioneering and government by promises. The PNP would tell the truth. (dsij pg. 67) When appearing at these rallies, Max Romeo, Clancy Eccles, and Bob Marley oftenShow MoreRelatedBob Marley1577 Words   |  7 Pages(Edwards 1592). In 1930 Ras Tafari was crowned emperor of Ethiopia and baptized with the name Haile Selassie. From that moment on the Rastafarians of Jamaica would recognize the king of Ethiopia as the living messiah. The religion of Rastafarianism was meant to empower Jamaica’s black population by reflecting heavily on African heritage and believed that the western society was today’s kingdom of Babylon, a corrupt city that profited from the oppressed. Part of the Rastafarian faith wasRead More Reggae: The Music of Protest Essay2358 Words   |  10 Pageshave deeper meanings which are about an extraordinary philosophy, Rastafarianism and political messages mostly about colonialism and corruption in governments. Reggae music which is evolved before the end of 1960s in Jamaica, has been used as an efficient form of protest against slavery, poverty and corruptions in government; and Bob Marley, the legend of reggae, had very important role in spreading the ideology of Rastafarianism and giving humanitarian messages to the world. Reggae is a style ofRead MoreA Sociological View of Rastafarianism3718 Words   |  15 Pagesas a sect, a minor detail on the fringes of the society it never wanted to represent. Rastfarianism is such a sect. The differences between Rastafarianism and a normal mainstream religion are numberless, including: no set membership, no authoritative leader, no offices of authority, no trained clergy and no involvement with the world as a whole. Rastafarianism is based upon an underrepresented minority which needed hope in the face in utter demise. According to Max Weber, religion emerges to satisfyRead More A Sociological View of Rastafarianism Essay3688 Words   |  15 Pagesas a sect, a minor detail on the fringes of the society it never wanted to represent. Rastfarianism is such a sect. The differences between Rastafarianism and a normal â€Å"mainstream† religion are numberless, including: no set membership, no authoritative leader, no offices of authority, no trained clergy and no involvement with the world as a whole. Rastafarianism is based upon an underrepresented minority which needed hope in the face in utter demise.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Max Weber, religion emergesRead MoreMisconceptions of Rastafarianism2637 Words   |  11 PagesSam Cook 12/1/2012 Rhetoric of Reggae Tuna (Professor Snider) Common Misconceptions of the Rastafarian People When an average person hears the word Rastafarianism, several things come to mind. Some examples would be the stereotypical images of dreadlocks (long braids or natural locks of hair), the smoking of ganja (marijuana), the busy streets of Trenchtown, and the reggae rhythms of the one and only Bob Marley. Unfortunately, those things are not necessarily the makings of what truly embodiesRead MoreEssay on Hip-hop, Reggae, and Politics5105 Words   |  21 Pagesthe island. Reggae music holds a political and social cohesiveness through religion compared to hip-hop that stays together through the culture it developed. Rastafarianism has a dominant influence within reggae music and, â€Å"there are intensely religious and deeply spiritual aspects of reggae’s religious base.†(Salmon). Rastafarianism, as well as the drumming of the Maroons predates reggae music, but their influence is strong. Rastafarians believe that the former Ethiopian Emperor Haile SelassieRead MoreEssay about Jamaican Patois4705 Words   |  19 Pageswill make the language more respected. The other argument is saying that it will just strengthen the misconception that Creole is inferior to Standard English. In Jamaica, in addition to the Jamaican patois of the roots, the development of Rastafarianism has caused Rastas to develop a language and vocabulary of their own (Nicholas, 1996, p.38), and for the purpose of this paper it will be referred to as Rasta talk. The Rastafarian speech has also been referred to assoul language,ghetto languageRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesus to survive and thrive This page intentionally left blank Foreword One of the most useful things about Ennis Edmondss Rastafari: From Outcasts to Culture Bearers is that it correctly traces the connection between the emergence of Rastafarianism and the history of resistance and black consciousness that has been part of the Jamaican experience for years. The truth is that there has always been a committed Jamaican counter- culture that celebrates and sees redemption in Africa and rejectsRead More Bob Marley Essay3397 Words   |  14 Pagesyears before and after their independence. By staying away from the malevolent competitive battles of the actual and possible political leaders, he could attract a group of followers that others could not amass. ?As former Jamaican prime minister Michael Manley has noted, ?Marley took what was a subculture in Jamaica and elevated it to a dominant culture?[He] took a folk art and he elevated it into a universal language of communication.? Perhaps the expansion of black culture was even more importantRead More Discontent Expressed through Blues, Jazz, Reggae, and Hip-hop5489 Words   |  22 Pagesviolence that plagues the streets of that small island. Politicians felt it necessary to draw support and safety from gunmen, who were in turn protected from the law by the politicians. With the elections in the 1970s, and the competition between Michael Manley (Peop les National Party) and Edward Seaga (Jamaican Labor Party), the violence increased. The United States embraced Seaga and the JLP, and in an attempt to prevent another chance at democratic socialism, the CIA supplied weapons to guarantee