A look into the origins and practices of Rastafarianism. From the direct accounts of these early members, the author is able to reconstruct pivotal episodes in Rastafarian history to offer a look into a subgroup of Jamaican society whose beliefs took root in the social unrest of the 1930s.
Culture, Socialization, and Gender Identity in Five Caribbean Communities
Focusing on the socialization processes of male children, this study addresses the increasing marginalization of Caribbean males. Through qualitative research in urban and rural areas of Dominica, Guyana, and Jamaica, the voices of community members are highlighted, revealing their insights on gender identity, male socialization, and parenting skills. The work also explores the distinctions between Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Caribbean perspectives on these issues, providing a nuanced look at male-female relations and societal expectations.
By focusing on the worldview of Jamaican and other Caribbean peoples, this collection of essays explores the themes of cultural continuity and change between the Rastafari, on the one hand, and Revival, Ndyuka and Winti religions, on the other. A wide range of topics are covered: continuity between Rastafari and Revival, the origin and symbolism of the dreadlocks, the process of Rastafari integration into British society, the Gaan Gadu cult, home rituals, and the theoretical problems of African retention in the Caribbean.