Black Exodus To Ethiopia example essay topic

Ras Tafari Rastafarianism began as a religion of the dispossessed. In 1930, a prophecy of deliverance was fulfilled for Jamaicans slum-dwellers and rural poor. Ethiopia symbolized Africa and the homeland for the slave-descended Jamaicans. Ras Tafari Maken nen, in 1930, became Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Emperor Selassie claimed to be a direct descendent of King Solomon. Many Jamaicans were waiting for a black messiah.

Selassie, who at his coronation was proclaimed Negus a Nega st (King of Kings), and whose imperial name meant Power of the Holy Trinity, seemed to be the one. A core group of Jamaicans believed Selassie was the Living God of Abraham and Isaac / He Whose Name Should Not Be Spoken. They took on his original name and called themselves Rastafarians or Rastas. Emperor Selassie was not a Rastafarian. He was a devout Christian. Its not clear what he thought about this religion and its focus on him.

An incident is told about a group of Rastas who went to his palace in Ethiopia to honor him. A palace official told them to go away. This did not dampen their faith. It only served to strengthen it because they were convinced that God is not supposed to know He is God. When the world media reported the Emperors death, Rastas believe this was a trick to undermine their faith. Their devotion to Selassie led them to believe that he did not die.

He now had taken on perfect or eternal flesh and with his wife, Empress Me nen, he sits atop Mt. Zion in Israel, waiting for judgment day. Rastas use the Bible for guidance. They invite all peoples of the world to repent and accept Jah (a shortened form of Jehovah).

Babylon symbolizes the white political power structure that has terrorized and enslaved the black race for centuries. Rastas see the history of blacks as one of bein physically held down by iron shackles. In the present, Rastas feel blacks are held down by poverty, illiteracy, inequality, and trickery by the white man. To stand up against this Babylon, Rastas want to remind blacks of their heritage. Heaven on earth, in Rastafarian belief, is in Africa and especially Ethiopia.

Theres no afterlife. A black Exodus to Ethiopia will occur in the future. This Exodus will begin after a signal from Jah. This means that Rastafarians are very focused on any news from Ethiopia.

As a result, Jamaican blacks have looked more deeply into their African heritage. Red, gold, green, and black are Rastafarian colors. Red stands for Church Triumphant, which is the Church of the Rastas. It also stands for the blood of martyred Rastas.

Gold represents the wealth of the homeland. Green symbolizes the beauty and vegetation of the Ethiopia, the promised land. Black is used to represent the African people. He causeth the grass for cattle and the herb for the service of man, Psalm 104: 14. Rastas use this scripture and others as the basis for their use of ganja. Regarded as wisdom weed, Rasta leaders urge that ganja be smoked by followers as a religious rite and aid to meditation.

A potent strain of ganja or marijuana grows in abundance on Jamaica. It grows wild, providing a good supply for Rastas spiritual and medicinal purposes. Rastas eat I-tal food. I-tal food is chemical free and not canned. Though cooked, this food is served without salts, preservatives, or condiments.

Rastas are vegetarians. Drinks can be anything thats herbal such as tea. Liquor, milk, coffee and soft drinks are considered unnatural. I-tal food has gained a growing popularity among Jamaicans in general. Using Leviticus 21: 5, They shall not make baldness upon their head, Rastas outlawed the combing or cutting of hair. Their nappy tresses were allowed to mat and twine themselves into ropy dread locks.

This hair style was called dread locks to mock the non-believers aversion to their appearance. The way the hair grows has come to represent rebellion against the system and the proper way to wear hair. Basically, Rastafarians have these core beliefs. The first one is that God is spirit and that this spirit is represented in Emperor Selassie. The Emperor is black and a descendent, as Christ is, of the family of King David.

This family's she metic or dark-skinned physical characteristics are misrepresented in European art. Blacks throughout the world have been denied the joy and dignity of knowing how Jesus and Mary really looked. Jesus and Mary were black. A white messiah coming in the past or future is a white myth. Their redeemer is black..