M.y A.rt Y.ur A.ddiction

Although I feel where you’re coming from I have to say this… I am at an HBU, Historically Black University.. Although I am surrounded by all of me people once I get my degree and move into the real world I will BELITTLED, TALKED ABOUT, & made to be uneducated and in many ways UNINTELLIGENT..

You will be at NYU in the Fall which is a majority White Institution.. If you feel like the outcast now just imagine how you will feel there…

You are BLACK you are Love you are Beauty you are Strength you are Passion you are Soul

You better Hold your Head High and Stick your Chest Out even at the times when you feel that no one is paying attention to you or your thoughts you STILL hold your head up high and stick your chest out…

REPRESENT for your ethnicity, your culture, your heritage…

The only race you are apart of if the Human Race

Which means you will have doubt, sadness, or despair.. But NEVER forget how wonderful you are how golden brown your skin is, how curvy your shape, how full your lips are… Smile.. Be Proud.. And DO NOT EVER let ANYONE, THING, or EVENT put you down or discourage you…

I love you Beautiful Black Girl :)

IMA COLLEGE GAL!! And I will begin to share with you assignments I complete through my Matriculation at Clark Atlanta University..

Who are the Rastafarians?

Religion is one of the most important aspects of every culture.  Beliefs derived from beyond what is visible to the eye that can bring people together in a time of sorrow, but can also cause war and the demise of a nation.  Because there are hundreds of religious all over the world, some so sacred they’re unknown to scholars, people tend to discriminate and create personal opinions and stereo-types about religions they may have heard about but are mainly alien to.  Having familiarity with various religions and learning about them in my classes, I’ve always wondered why the religion with the most conceptions, stereo-types and false followers, in my opinion, is not taught let alone discussed.  So, with careful and extent research, I will expand my peers mind by replacing their misconceptions and stereo-types with the true meaning behind the founders and followers of the Rastafarian Movement.

The Rastafarian Movement came into existence due to the great state of depression, poverty, and violence that was prominent in Jamaica in the 1930s.  Jamaicans were in dire need of positive and influential leadership and in overall solution to surpass the conditions they were forced to endure.  As a whole, Rastafarians view Jamaica as a land of oppression, or Babylon and that their only escape was to seize power from their oppressors and create a utopian like world for their people.[1]  In the early 1920s, a Jamaican by the name of Marcus Garvey became their answer.  Garvey began his influence by teaching to Jamaicans on the streets of Jamaica.  His famous, “Back to Africa” movement, instilled black nationalism into not only Jamaicans but also African-Americans in the United States.[2]  His movement to the belief of some scholars may be the reason behind him not getting equal amount of recognition in the civil rights and Black Nationalism movements in comparison to leaders such as, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.  But like Malcolm X and King, the opinions and put downs made by others did not discourage nor hinder Garvey from going forth with his belief.  The Rastafarians viewed Garvey as a prophet of God, much like John the Prophet who foretold the coming of Jesus Christ.[3]  At one event Garvey said, “Look to Africa for the crowning of a black king, he shall be the Redeemer.”[4]  And it was not too long after Garvey’s prediction that an Ethiopian man by the name of Ras Tafari Makonnen would be crowned Emperor Haile Selassie, elect of God, Lord of Lords and King of the Kings of Ethiopia.

On November 2, 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Haile Selassie, king of Ethiopia.  The apparent fulfillment of Marcus Garvey’s predictions became the basis and began the emergence of the Rastafarian Movement.  The Rastafarians belief held strong in that Emperor Haile Selassie is the black Messiah of Jah, God.[5]  It is said that Emperor Haile Selassie traced his lineage back to the biblical figures, King Solomon and his father King David.  Rastafarians believe that to truly understand the force behind their religious movement, you must understand the Old Testament of the Bible.  Rastafarians use direct scriptures from the Bible to bring to light why they believe that His Imperial Majesty (H.I.M.) Emperor Haile Selassie is the representation of God on Earth.  A few scriptures include; Rev: 5:2-5, 19:16, and 22:16.  Revelations chapter twenty-two verses two through five includes the prophet John and an elder in Heaven engaging: “And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.  I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.  Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.  He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”[6]  The Rastafarians believe that Emperor Haile Selassie was whom the elder was referring to.  Although Emperor Haile Selassie is seen as the Rastafarians most important aspect to their movement, the country where Emperor Haile Selassie was born holds the true force behind their movement, Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is seen today as one of the most beautiful countries on the continent of Africa.  One of the two countries to remain independent after the scramble for Africa, Ethiopia became of much interest to European powers particularly the Italians.  In the author and historian Graham Hancock’s book, The Sign and the Seal: The quest for the lost Ark of the Covenant, he contributes to his readers’ direct evidence from his trip to Ethiopia where it is believed to hold the Ark of the Covenant.  The Ark of the Covenant was built by the prophet Moses, to hold the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments.  Hancock provides a direct interview with a monk who claims to be the overseer and guard of the Ark of the Covenant.  The monk told Hancock that Moses placed the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments in the Ark of the Covenant.  He also said that King Solomon who was King of Israel placed the Ark of the Covenant in Israel but was later moved to Ethiopia after it was stolen by Azarius, the son of Zadok the high priest of Israel.  And since then Ethiopia has been the home to the Ark of the Covenant.[7]  Early Rastafarians exerted these beliefs into the hearts and minds of Jamaicans and thus began a movement that would spread from Jamaica to the United States, Canada, and some parts of Europe.

The original followers of Rastafari said that it was not a religion, a human organization, or a philosophy, but an active attempt to discern the will of Jah.  Early Rastas followed the beliefs and practices with much more sincerity and under strict law, but throughout the spread and expansion of the Rastafarian Movement, it has expanded and branched off into three sects.[8]  Once the leadership of Marcus Garvey diminished, after his death, the beliefs and practices were expected to be instilled in and passed down from the original followers.  The Rastafarians have a number of different beliefs some of the following include: The belief that God is a spirit and that this spirit was manifested in King H.I.M Emperor Haile Selassie I., belief that the Ethiopian Solomonic Dynasty is a direct representation of King David, belief that they are the original Lost Tribes of Israel that were once scattered by Babylon until the appearance of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, belief that God will return them to Zion( Rastafarians refer to Ethiopia as Zion), belief that Ethiopia is the Promised Land and that it is Heaven on Earth, and the final belief that the White Man took them away from the Promised Land as slaves to Babylon and a Babylonian system.[9]  As the years went on, the Rastafarians developed aspects and ways that would distinguish them from other religious movements and cultures.  Thus the wearing of Dreadlocks, the use of marijuana, and emergence of Reggae music would start to come into existence within their movement.

When asked, the average person would describe their understanding of a Rastafarian as someone with dreads who smokes marijuana and listens to Reggae music.  Although these typical stereo-types are true, the outer appearance and ways of a Rastafarian fall far deeper than just that.  According to Dr. Girma’s book, Rastafarians: a Movement Tied with a Social and Psychological Conflict, the hair style of dreadlocks was a practice that had been in existence around the world since the beginning of time.  As civilizations and colonization began the reason behind wearing dreadlocks became more of a sign of strength, courage, and aspect of culture and religion.  Northern Indians, Celts, innumerable tribal people of South America and Africans are known for wearing dreadlocks.  Beginning in 1845 through 1910, East Indians immigrated to the West Indies including Jamaica, thus bringing along with them their culture, customs, and the concept of being a sadhu, an often wandering ascetic holy man wearing dreadlocks.[10]  There are two reasons behind why Rastafarians began wearing dreadlocks.  One is from the Nazarene vow stated in The Bible.  The Bible tells about the Nazarene vow, that during the time you choose to be the Lord’s Nazarene, you must stay away from wine and from cutting your hair, thus the wearing of dreadlocks is the symbol to God of your dedication to the Nazarene vow.  The second reason is during the time that Italy attacked Ethiopia to seize their land and the Ark of the Covenant, the guerilla warriors of Ethiopia swore not to cut their dreadlocks until they won the war.  The Rastafarians identified dreadlocks with the African warriors and freedom fighters in Ethiopia and began to grown them themselves.  The second stereo-type most associated with the Rastafarians is their engagement in smoking marijuana.

According to Dr. Girma, Marijuana was originally used in religious rituals, temple activities, tribal rites, and involved groups of worshippers rather than a single person.  After marijuana was criminalized in the United States in 1937, it became labeled as something bad and wrongful to engage in, discuss, or associate with.  Smoking marijuana for recreational purposes or as a religious sacrament was brought in the mid 1840s to the Americas and the Caribbean by Indian laborers who had been indentured to replace the freed Africans from slavery on the United States’ sugarcane plantations.  Rastafarians use marijuana as a form of meditation and to be closer to God while in prayer.  One of the most positive influential figures known to the world that is associated with marijuana instead of his ways of exerting peace and equality among the world is Bob Marley.

Bob Marley became an important figure to the Rastafarian movement after his contribution to Reggae music and him becoming a Rastafarian.  He became a Rastafarian around the year 1966, bringing Reggae and the Rastafarian movement to international attention.  Reggae music is a form of expression that is entertaining, revolutionary, and filled with the symbolism of Christianity and the aspects of the Rastafarian movement.[11]  Bob Marley believed that he could heal the world with his music, and he became loved by people from all over the world.  A few months before his death, he was accepted and baptized in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.  His musical and persona influenced the lives of many Rastafarians as well as people all over the world.

From a people of having to endure and live under less fortunate conditions, with a sense of no hope for change and revolution, Rastafarians have become a people known of strength, courage and integrity.  In 1996, the Rastafarian movement was given consultative status by the United Nations.[12]  Although to the majority of the world the Rastafarian movement is not understood, their impact has been both of great change to the civil rights struggle of Blacks, and a way for people to escape the brainwashing distractions of the world and become more in tune with matters that affect one’s life, beliefs, and actions.  If the world would lose the close-minded mentality we’ve developed over a long period of time, the existence of discrimination would become more rare than common.  And the impact the Rastafarians want to have on the world outside of their movement is just that.  It is built upon respect and equality amongst all of mankind with hope for the end of the struggle with discrimination, racism, and stereo-types. 

[2]Yohannes Iyassu Menelik, Professor Dr. Girma.Rastafarians: A Movement Tied With Social and Psychological Conflicts. Norderstedt, Germany: Druck and Bindung, 2009.

[3] Yohannes Iyassu Menelik, Professor Dr. Girma.Rastafarians: A Movement Tied With Social and Psychological Conflicts. Norderstedt, Germany: Druck and Bindung, 2009.

[4] http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/rastafarianism.htm

[5] Yohannes Iyassu Menelik, Professor Dr. Girma.Rastafarians: A Movement Tied With Social and Psychological Conflicts. Norderstedt, Germany: Druck and Bindung, 2009.

[6] “My Bible Study Tools- Personalized Online Bible Study and Bible Reading.” Available from http://bible.christianity.com/mybst/default. Internet; accessed 25 April 2010.

[7] Hancock, Graham. The sign and the seal: the quest for the lost Ark of the Covenant. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992.

[8] http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/rastafarianism.htm

[9] Yohannes Iyassu Menelik, Professor Dr. Girma.Rastafarians: A Movement Tied With Social and Psychological Conflicts. Norderstedt, Germany: Druck and Bindung, 2009.

[10] Yohannes Iyassu Menelik, Professor Dr. Girma.Rastafarians: A Movement Tied With Social and Psychological Conflicts. Norderstedt, Germany: Druck and Bindung, 2009.

[11] Barrett, Leonard. The Rastafarians. Boston: Beacon Press, 1997.

[12] http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/rastafarianism.htm

*tisk tisk tisk*

Sooo there is a pattern that continues to overlap and weave itself…i find very few loose threads with the hope of being tugged to unravel this CYCLE!!!

My beautiful, strong, and sexy Black Men.. :)..

Whyyyy is it that you’ve included SEX in the dating package??

Is it because some of these promiscuous women have thrown the pxssy at you like WELP HERE YA GO?! numerous and countless times??

Is it because of what you hear in music and see on TV??

WHAT IS IT??!!!

Can I be asked..”Can I take you out?” instead of “So when we gone chill?”…can I get “Wanna go for a walk in a park?” rather than..”Can I come over??”

We don’t have to SPEND a DIME to ENJOY quality TIME!

This is something that has been really bothering me…

S/O to a certain friend of mine who LIVES ABOVE THE INFLUENCE & showed a Lady A NICE EVENING… :).. Can the real GENTLEMEN PLEASE STAND UP?!!