Rasta,Jamaica and life truths being told by an authentic diasporean born African (Jamaican nationality).
Amidst the noise of misconceptions and lies found on this place called the international highway I bring my distinct voice.A voice that simplifies the complexities that they determine as truth. SO WHILE YOU ARE HERE, CLICK THE LINKS AND RUN YOUR MOUSE OVER THE TEXT TO ENJOY THIS TIME WITH ME. I CERTAINLY ENJOYED CREATING IT FOR YOU
a Jamaican expression, born and bred. Yet more so,a world citizen,a proud member of the Nubian race(black). Proud of its history and the legacy presented to the world as a gift of life.
My greatest joy was in reading; and as i grew into manhood,that passion has evolved into the inevitable role of the writer.
I enjoy woman! Who she is. Her strength, her struggles, passions, how she thinks. All that makes her woman. I celebrate you. And though you may look and see Rastafari? WHAT defines me Is ME. My experiences, my knowledge,my acceptance that the world is made up of so many different worldviews. My world view is that all things are connected and have a common thread. I accept you and your thoughts. Yet I accept me even more.My greatest pleasure is to be around children.As we make this journey Ill tell you more about that. And if you feel like asking? go ahead.I will share these projects with you.
What do you do when life hits you flat? When there is no where to go? Not even up?
FIGHT BACK!
When no life is in you And your fight is all gone You slump hopeless Battered and bruised
FIGHT BACK!
With tears as your song Your walk is not strong Your foes gather like beasts to devour you
FIGHT BACK
Life surrounds you and laugh At your many fruitless tasks And the universe rolls with glee at your futility
FIGHT BACK!
It doesn’t make sense There is no faithful friend Though hypocrites abound And they all congregate to celebrate your descent
FIGHT BACK!
When you downgrade yourself To inferior quality And stumble through life, like a worthless flea
FIGHT BACK!
It still doesn’t make sense Life is more like hell And not like paradise that you have dreamt You wish you were dead than alive in this hell And you welcome your end with glee
I know where weapons of mass destruction are. I know where they are stored, who brought them in, even when they arrived. I remember too my childhood days of the 70's.
Jamaica.
Such a beautiful country, devoid of the violence that was first propagandized by the west and that now, to a painfully large degree is true. Damn this point to which we have sunk.
I remember a calmer, safer more relaxed Jamaica. A Jamaica where we slept without harassment, where doors wereleft wide open so that the sweet, cool Jamaican sea breeze would refresh hot Caribbean bodies with that magic whichonly a Jamaican could describe. mmmmmmmmmm.
Moonshine baths to bathe us as we walked the roads and hills without fear. Where "howdy and tenk you" was the order of the day. Our patterns of good manners, kept safe for another generation to pass down respect for every elder, even if we didn't have them for our peers.
But back to those weapons.
They came in under the guise of intrigue. They came like “Geeks bearing gifts”. I think that’s the text? The gifts of differing lifestyles, mode of dress, way of behavior, and manner of speech. Weapons that were made to look like toys. Weapons that brought the thrill of the fast life, the promise of a dream and the adoption by Uncle Sam.
Thus began the priming of the weapons.
The weapons
I remember when the introduction of these weapons began. “The true confessions1”, people magazines, the rumor tabloids, television and the literature. All designed to weed out good upbringing on a mass scale.
The food that was specially created for our enjoyment, that kept Lab techs busy, pouring in the sugar, the candy, the enticement. Our natural fruits were no longer naturally flavored grapes, apples or oranges. They were now numbered flavor #44, or pineapple flavored juices. Meaning someone created the flavor of the fruits in a tank and they were no longer natural but artificial. Yes artificially flavored foods. Alien food.
Media, blessed media!
Introduction to debased lifestyles 101 took place on a massive scale. Now that would really kill the masses. Hollywood primed then cranked the engines of mass destruction. Psychological inventions and the cultural intent to damage were flung into full gear. They would seep into the minds and psyches of a strong, carefree proud, and to a large degree African Minded people.
The destruction
Destruction of principles that once held us together when the going was tough were being eroded. Mass scale destruction of principles that kept our families strong and guaranteed that the hungry would be fed, the stranger would be welcome and any child that was in need of help would be taken in with open arms.
The weapons leaked upon the masses
I remember this well. I remember the subtle ways these weapons were leaked on the masses. The controversy over a Nash Ville girl ( a 70’s movie) who happened to show more (flesh) than we were accustomed to on our TV. Such uproar took place for several days and riled the masses to heat up the radio call in programs. Those for and those against, spoke with passion about allowing or disallowing questionable methods of mind control.
Violence
Yet we have always accepted violence as entertainment. After all there were many cowboys and Indians being massacred and karate movies were abundant. Wasn’t this Sam’s way? But it seemed like that was not enough .We got properly introduced to gore and savagery on a level we had never yet seen. There were some gasps and some oooooooos, but that died down in no time and in its stead smiles and laughter when a heart was being eaten and applause for a head being chopped from shoulders. Such was the state of television. And we gladly adopted without questions.
Consequences
But look at us 30 years later. We slowly lost track of what was accepted, what was good, what was polite. What was just.
Now we are more dependent on others to feed us, violent and rocked by a plague that is bent on killing us off.Images which were trapped in a box in my living room explodes daily on my streets. Drive bys, murders of innocent babies, rapes, senseless killings. in Intense violence in the streets.
Weapons that were not present in my boyhood days in the 70’s now pollute our streets and the minds of our people. Weapons that are mostly invisible to unseeing eyes. Weapons that destroy the mind.
Black is the color of my hair...though that's superficial Black is the color of my skin..THAT. Only touches the surface Black is the liquid that flows through my veins Black is the color of my DNA
Black is my thought My glory my name Black is my Story Black is my fame
Black is my culture Black sovereignty Black my Nature Black is my Aim Black is the color of My DNA
Black is my consciousness,philosophy and sounds, Black is My songs Black is the sounds i play on my drums Black is my economics Black my industry
Black is my achievement Black... the science Black MY civilization Black is my utterance
Binghi man where is your crown? Bejeweled with precious gems? Held in high esteem and worn regally? Where is your scepter you hold so near to your African skin and carried every where? Flesh of your flesh Bone of your bone, Skin to your skin and held precious to you?
Boasting of achievements, you bask in your fame But where is the crown that you wear?
“Powerful are the hands that rock the cradle” Are you as powerful as you seem? Do you show them tender care? Do you let your precious babies play in your hair?
Express your joys with them Tell them you love them Swim in the rivers Play in the rain Make up stories together
Laugh Sing Cry Smile…lots of it
Don’t be afraid to share Wear your crown proud.
There are a few myths that exists about your crowns • Tax deduction • Old age pension • Property
No they are not. Instead they are the sweetest most precious living diamonds that exists throughout all of this construction. They are the magnificence of existence, the grandeur of life, the wonder of the universe and beyond any concept in your mind.
The crowing glory man.
Maybe you have never experienced what it feels like to gaze into her eyes, cradled tenderly in your arms captivated by her and smiling her smiles. You have never yet touched him ruffled his hair and feel his joy erupt as he calls your name And maybe, just maybe she has never sat you down and quizzed you about the secrets of life, taught you about tenderness and created your smiles.
Precious are the gems of my crown.
Omosede is a beautiful Yoruba name whose essence means “the child is worth more than the crown (king)
So in your boast about greatness, achievement and fame. I ask you only one question. Binghi man where is your crown?
The essence of Bob Marley’s music is not merely entertainment. His giftedness transcends ordinary musicianship and converts to the truly inspirational. It is so potent that it gave an entire nation hope in their fight against injustice and the scourge of apartheid.
There are incidents of freedom fighters in various regions of Africa who listened to the sounds and words of Marley’s music that gave them hope of a day when they would conquer over injustices. One such incident that took place was in Zimbabwe. Formerly called Rhodesia.
The report of others
In a recent article in the Sunday Gleaner (a Jamaican news paper) dated November 9, 2008 Tommy Cowan former marketing manger for tuff gong, stated that on a tour to Africa the mother land, Bob was invited by some soldiers who had visited him. He said they asked Bob if he would “honor the people of Rhodesia” by his performance in their independence celebrations. They further said.
“When we were losing the battle it was Bob’s music that inspired the victory of the war”
Memorable eye witness accounts
In Cowan’s own words concerning memorable moments of that concert he said.
“On Bob’s third song I heard a commotion over the back fence of the stadium which I went to investigate, and to my surprise I saw thousands of black men heading towards the gate”. The police started to throw teargas, some got in my eyes and I ran back to the stage.”
“I took a wet towel and covered the face of young Ziggy (Marley’s son) and the show came to a halt. We learnt then that it was the prisoners of war who broke out of jail to see their hero Bob Marley. When it was time to resume, there was no I Three (Bob’s back up singers).someone took them away. On resumption, Bob sang Zimbabwe and AfricaUnite to the lowering of the Rhodesian flag and hoisting of the Zimbabwe flag.”
“We eventually caught up with the I Three later on Bob Marley jokingly said”
‘Now I know who is the true revolutionaries.’
Such is the mystique and reach and power of “The Legend”
Vibrant! Dynamic! Individualistic and friendly is just a small list of adjectives that identify a special kind of people. “Wi likkle but we tallawah” A lame translation in English would be. We are “little” but we are gifted beyond measure. The translation being further determined by the reason it was said (ps. Find a Jamaican to explain it further for you if you don’t get it).
What makes Jamaicans Special? We are large! Not in land mass, or by comparison with so the called modern standards of industrialization, but the impact we have had and continue to have on the world is mind boggling. Our spirit is one of resilience. There is something in our genes that ignite us to strive above and beyond our own expectations. Ingenious by nature. I tell you it’s in our genes! I think we were placed here just to fascinate the world. What is the magic they posses? Our music Our food Our culture It speaks wonders when a “dot” on the map can be known as far away as the tip of the world on the continent of Australia. Just mention the word Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, Reggae, jerk chicken, Usain Bolt and you will catch a glimpse of this wonderful magic.
What have the Jamaicans done now? We are world achievers. We set out to excel and this we do with little or nothing. (Money or facilities). All we have in our mind is that drive to succeed. The drive to fulfill our passion and live our dreams.
Jamaican heroes and heroines In every country, there are the unsung heroes and heroines. The mother, the father, the sister, the child who made a relative proud. Someone who achieved against impossible odds and made the world a more fascinating place. Those who made it a little “lighter’ with their infectious laughter and their penchant for storytelling. Especially if that story was told in Patwah. The Jamaican language of course. It sounds like music to foreign ears I am told. Plus it is the best way I know how to express myself. It is a beautiful, stupendous, expressive musical language of a gorgeous people. (Sigh)
Jamaican personality Did I forget to mention our animated personality? We smile big and laugh loud. Our hands move and our bodies sing in rhythmic abandon. We are a friendly people who make you feel right at home and never like a stranger. We treat you like our favorite uncle Maxie who has been away in foreign (land) for a long time and who has returned for a visit. Welcome home!
Rhythm drum and bass Music! Oh yes music! The heartbeat of a people. We can’t live without it. If ever there was true religion that would be it. The sweet sounds of Beres Hammond, John Holt, Alton Ellis, Byron Lee… Countless musicians who soothe our aches and venerate our triumphs. Jamaican music is truly “message” music. It speaks volumes for us when we cannot speak for ourselves.
Jamaican bliss Ah yes the beauty of our “green.” Trees, flowers, mountains, rivers all meticulously fashioned and emblazoned with brilliant golden sunshine. All fashionably constructed for our satisfaction. A stroll on the beach. A trek in the hills; an unforgettable river bath And they describe this as paradise? Breathtaking ,unforgettable is what it is!
Crime Crime? We have a lot. Unacceptable really. But which country doesn’t. That’s the reality of the 21st century. A sad one . but one that we must deal with.
One man's paradise is another man's home Jamaica. A tourist’s Eden. But more than that to me. My island home, more than an island. A country. As large as any land mass and as important as any. After all Africa swims in our gene pool. Therein lays your fascination with us. Jamaica! Jamaica! Jamaica land we love. Tah tah until nex time( *that means bye bye)
Not in a long time has an individual ignited the world with such passion and belief in a concept. “Change we can believe in.”
Whether you agree with his policies or not, you just can’t help but listen.
He is charismatic beyond measure, extremely eloquent as a speaker and for some a messiah of hope. A catalyst for change. We can is heard all over America and who knows where else in the world. The possibility of changesoars high in the air as it emerges from millions of lips with enthusiasm whipped up by his magic.
We can is more than a slogan. It has become the mantra of a people, conjured by Obama the world’s black messiah.
Fascinating isn’t it?
Who would have thought?
Can Obama solve the problems?
I applaud him for his achievement and persona that has captivated the world and freed many to accept change we can believe in.
Yet Obama cannot solve our problems. He cannot reduce crime. He cannot put food on our tables
He never promised you that.
Only we can
Do not get me wrong. He will play his part and I look forward to a brilliant one.
But the changes he speaks of and the open doors he will create, only we can go through them. He cannot hold your hands.
Only we can.
What Obama needs to succeed
Let us play our part. Let us strive. Let us hear his message of change, of hope of possibilities and do all that we can to make that change happen.
Messiahs come and go. Many suffered untimely deaths, but let this one leave a legacy in OUR lifetime because he told us “we can.”
You can!
We?
It does not mean Barak Obama.
It means Us, Me and You, Barak
The world.
“We can.”
Obama’s World issues
The issues he speaks of are not just America’s issues. They are world issues.
Hunger, poverty, failing economies. The choke hold that multinational capitalistic companies hold around the necks of hard working individuals. Sucking their lives dry of existence. Issues that many of the other messiahs have sought to correct. Issues that the status quo are averse to correcting.
The road ahead
There is a hard upward road to travel, but as he said. “We can.”
Let us work towards change as one. As true world citizens.
Isn’t the popular phrase being thrown around nowadays ‘the global village?”
In this global village let us do what we can.
Credit to Obama
I salute Obama for doing what he can. For igniting flames that were extinguished or on the verge of being put out. How he agitated the impossible and improbable into change we can believe in.
Yes we can
I applaud you Barak Obama (black magic).
But most of all I applaud YOU. (The rest of us).
For we can
ONLY YOU CAN
Get excited, get ready for action, and change our world
A proliferation of self professed sages are claiming wisdom of knowledge that has not yet possessed them. Knowledge that they have not yet lived nor experienced.
So much importance has been placed on the teacher throughout modern times and by students themselves that we have overlooked the true role of the learner.
In the search for knowledgethere are many that blindly accept what has been written or said without doing proper investigation.
There are six questions that need to be asked when learning. Who, what, when,where, how and why. For example Who said it? What was said? When was it said? Where was it said? How was it said? Why was it said?
Never blindly accept knowledgeas truth. Check other sources. If there are words or phrases that you don’t understand, then use a dictionary, use the internet, ask someone. Read up on opposing views. You may find surprising nuggets of truth there. Yes even “the dull and ignorant, they too have their story”. Above all you will learn to look objectively at a particular concept; thereby understanding why or how the person’s views differ and how to question your own views.
After you have been introduced to all these difficult viewpoint, come to your own conclusions, without allowing your personal bias to override the plain truth before you.
These suggestions are by no means comprehensive, but a little knowledge goes a long way.
“Truth is simple, don’t complicate it” Finally if the teacher has not taught then the learner must still learn. That is your responsibility. (learn how to learn)
From out of the precious womb of a proud people who survived the cruelest of oppressive schemes meticulously designed by mans inhumanity to man (if he could be called man) nature’s response was born.
Africansfilled with the power of ancestral pride and connections from deep within them; powerfully reconnected to mama Africa’s “navel string” (umbilical cord).
A connection that shook unstable foundations of world structures and shaped the way the world sees us.
With fascination and in total awe, wise and powerful utterances were delivered without apology.
Africa’s voice was again powerful. And we declared ourselves
PROUDUNREPENTANT AFRICANS.
Don’t call me Jamaican, Caribbean, Afro-American……..
Because I came from one source.
The only source.
AFRICA!
!MAMA!
We refused to be called by their names, simply because they were not ours and we had the right to choose otherwise. “I rastafari.” “Ras negus “ras I”……….
Africa shouted!...........
Speak I own language!
Deify I own people!
Declare what spirituality IS, to ME.
To I!
The ancient rasta Thought Afrocentric in whatever he said or did, for again it is I right to do so.
More importantly it was so natural to do.
From out of the womb of the belly, the indomitable spirit of those who went before us, rose from within our being and nudged us to become what we already were.
Creators of things unimaginable to mere humans.
we were more than that.
We were. And still remain a people of wonder
RASTAFARI
A CULTURE!
A WAY OF LIVING
NOT A RELIGION (MISCONCEPTIONS AND STRAIGHT OUT LIE)
EXPOSED
LIVICATED TO AFRICANS EVERYWHERE. IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO BE AFRICANS AT HOME AND ABROAD
Posts
