“If one benefits tangibly from the exploitation of others who are weak, is one morally implicated in their predicament? Or are basic rights of human existence confined to the civilized societies that are wealthy enough to afford them? Our values are defined by what we will tolerate when it is done to others.”
I just wanted people to take pause and think about what they actually view what may or not be "foreign cultures". While people do indeed traverse the world and engage new cultures on a scale like at no other time in recent history; travel is no longer only the whim of the rich or plight of the slave, oft times given the "right" and freedom of expression here in the States, peoples culture gets ridiculed without second thought.
When it comes to Rastafari in particular, while it has become a right of passage of sorts for young students to adorn themselves and their dorm rooms with images of Rastafari culture, icons of reggae music and colour schemes most indicative of Rastafari peoples, after college it is altogether too easy to drop such contrivances when re-emerging into the "real world". I myself have met many so called Rastafari who as soon as graduation approached, out came clippers and away went all remnants of the livity they had previously professed allegiance.
It is not an easy throw away option for true Rastafari peoples. This is not simply a culture or way of life, as we have had to say for decades. This is our Nation. These are our self-identified African brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers who have reclaimed a portion of the African identity stolen and brutality wrenched from them before, during and long after the Middle Passage.
It is a direct affront to me and anyone who claims Rastafari not only as a symbol of a people seeking to have themselves redeemed, but also as an expression of faith and spirituality that needs not be explained or understood by Western scholars or anyone who attempts to insulate and isolate Rastafari in current Western/Eastern paradigms of religious expression.
This is as relevant a spiritual journey to me and many others, as Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, any division of Christianity and which ever other method of worship and praise one could offer. Realize that while in today's dispensation the adherents of the aforementioned may not be able to physically point to a Man, or Woman for that matter that represents their spiritual journey on Earth, each faith at one time was able to do just that.
Do not mock us as men of other realms once mocked you and yours. It is unbecoming and rather beneath the mantle of Godly love that we and many others throughout the world have sought to teach and express.
Furthermore while it seems appropriate for ones to discuss all instances of use of the colours, Red Gold and Green, of the movement, I think that we have to be very leery of being hyper critical. It is true that many have used Bob Marley as a launching point for many multi-million dollar business ventures. But since that is a matter for the Marley family, foundation and business empire as regards infringement, it is not quite relevant in these discussions.
Bob Marley, however beloved by many the world over, is not the spiritual head or focus of Rastafari. I wonder if it was Matisyahu instead of Marley if the exploitation would be quite the same.
We do realize however that many are inspired by the Rastafari people and our spiritual focus, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie the 1st and Her Imperial Majesty Empress Menen. We do give thanks for such inspiration as it has been a hard fight, with many Elders who lost their lives and livelihoods, who suffered many grave injustices including physical injuries to have us still be able to hold up the banners and mantle of African freedom, love and spirituality.
So that being stated, one way to more properly pay homage to cultures that you come in contact with, especially in the case of Rastafari and the Nation of peoples who hold to that mantle, may in fact be to help facilitate the argument of Rastafari peoples with your own host governments and political leaders. Manufacturing hats with fake dreadlocks and printing beer labels with images of Rastafari is not an appropriate gesture.
Follow me on Twitter@JahKwasiAbahu
William Greider
When it comes to Rastafari in particular, while it has become a right of passage of sorts for young students to adorn themselves and their dorm rooms with images of Rastafari culture, icons of reggae music and colour schemes most indicative of Rastafari peoples, after college it is altogether too easy to drop such contrivances when re-emerging into the "real world". I myself have met many so called Rastafari who as soon as graduation approached, out came clippers and away went all remnants of the livity they had previously professed allegiance.
It is not an easy throw away option for true Rastafari peoples. This is not simply a culture or way of life, as we have had to say for decades. This is our Nation. These are our self-identified African brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers who have reclaimed a portion of the African identity stolen and brutality wrenched from them before, during and long after the Middle Passage.
It is a direct affront to me and anyone who claims Rastafari not only as a symbol of a people seeking to have themselves redeemed, but also as an expression of faith and spirituality that needs not be explained or understood by Western scholars or anyone who attempts to insulate and isolate Rastafari in current Western/Eastern paradigms of religious expression.
This is as relevant a spiritual journey to me and many others, as Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, any division of Christianity and which ever other method of worship and praise one could offer. Realize that while in today's dispensation the adherents of the aforementioned may not be able to physically point to a Man, or Woman for that matter that represents their spiritual journey on Earth, each faith at one time was able to do just that.
Do not mock us as men of other realms once mocked you and yours. It is unbecoming and rather beneath the mantle of Godly love that we and many others throughout the world have sought to teach and express.
Furthermore while it seems appropriate for ones to discuss all instances of use of the colours, Red Gold and Green, of the movement, I think that we have to be very leery of being hyper critical. It is true that many have used Bob Marley as a launching point for many multi-million dollar business ventures. But since that is a matter for the Marley family, foundation and business empire as regards infringement, it is not quite relevant in these discussions.
Bob Marley, however beloved by many the world over, is not the spiritual head or focus of Rastafari. I wonder if it was Matisyahu instead of Marley if the exploitation would be quite the same.
We do realize however that many are inspired by the Rastafari people and our spiritual focus, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie the 1st and Her Imperial Majesty Empress Menen. We do give thanks for such inspiration as it has been a hard fight, with many Elders who lost their lives and livelihoods, who suffered many grave injustices including physical injuries to have us still be able to hold up the banners and mantle of African freedom, love and spirituality.
So that being stated, one way to more properly pay homage to cultures that you come in contact with, especially in the case of Rastafari and the Nation of peoples who hold to that mantle, may in fact be to help facilitate the argument of Rastafari peoples with your own host governments and political leaders. Manufacturing hats with fake dreadlocks and printing beer labels with images of Rastafari is not an appropriate gesture.
Follow me on Twitter@JahKwasiAbahu
No comments:
Post a Comment