Jamaican Politics, Reggae and Rastafarianism in the 1970’s :: Essays on Politics

Jamaican Politics, Reggae and Rastafarianism in the 1970sIn the final election Prime Minister X went to Ethiopia and met with the King of Kings and had a chat with him. He came back to Jamaica and showed the people a celestial pole, which he said was condition to him by the King, Haile Selassie the First, to bring independence to the Black People of Jamaica. He carried that Rod all around during the campaign. The Rastafarians heard this the Dreadlocks heard this and this rod caused him to win a landslide victory for the Party. Well, I and I welcome that, because the former politics did nonhing for the cause of Africa, Rastas, or no one. As you k today, we Rastas do not vote, because you cannot wipe protrude out a rat and put in a cat, but the Prime Minister came to power talking like a Rastafarian. He started some progressive moves on behalf of the African peoples of this country. But afterward a while he forgot the Rod he forgot to talk to the highest degree Africa he forg ot to talk about the Rastafarians. What we now know, is that if the Prime Minister even so wanted to do something good for the African peoples of this country, his lieutenants will not leave behind him to do it. After he came back from Ethiopia he called himself Joshua, the one who was to take us to the Promised Land, but the only freedom we have seen up to now is the word Socialism.To be honest, he had done better than the different party, for the other Party was so anti-Black that not even Elijah Muhammad could enter Jamaica as a Black man. Today, it is a little better in that respect is freedom of speech for I and I. As you see, we even got the Marcus Garvey Park to use. Here and there we have seen a little change on the part of the political sympathies but not enough to bring the Black masses out of the slums they are in right now.(Barrett 180)This quote, along with numerous other readings, has sparked my raise in the political scene and situation surrounding Jamaica, Rast afarianism and reggae music in the 1970s. It seems to me, despite the economic shambles of Jamaica and the staunch and deliberate refusal of Rastafarians to participate in politricks, that politics has had a deep impact on any and all(prenominal) aspect of life in Jamaica.