Rastafari: The Evolution of a People and Their Identity

Rastafari: The Evolution of a People and Their Identity, by Charles Price, reclaims the rich history of this relatively new world religion, charting its humble and rebellious roots in Jamaica in the late nineteenth century to the present day. It survived the biases and violence they faced through their race consciousness and uncanny ability to ride the waves of anti-colonialism and Black Power. It also takes on the challenges of gender equality and the commodification of Rastafari culture in the twenty-first century without abandoning its message of equality and empowering the downpressed.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 21 November 2022
Publisher: New York University Press

Misunderstood, misappropriated, and belittled: despite the frequent portrayal of the Rastafari movement in media and culture, it has often been misrepresented, with its political and religious significance minimized. However, the Rastafari have not been vanquished. In his book, Rastafari: The Evolution of a People and Their Identity, Charles Price reclaims the rich history of this relatively new world religion. Charting its humble and rebellious roots in Jamaica's backcountry in the late nineteenth century to the present day, Price explains how Jamaicans' obsession with the Rastafari wavered from campaigns of violence to appeasement and cooptation. Indeed, he argues that the Rastafari as a political, religious, and cultural movement survived the biases and violence they faced through their race consciousness and uncanny ability to ride the waves of anti-colonialism and Black Power.

This social movement traveled throughout the Caribbean, Africa, Central America, and the United States, captivating the hearts and imaginations of much of the African diaspora. Rastafari spans the movement's struggle for autonomy, its multiple campaigns for repatriation to Africa, and its leading role in the Black consciousness movements of the twentieth century. Not content with simply narrating the past, Rastafari also takes on the challenges of gender equality and the commodification of Rastafari culture in the twenty-first century without abandoning its message of equality and empowering the downpressed.

Rastafari demonstrates how this cultural and political context helped to shape the development of a Black collective identity, showcasing how Rastafarians confronted society-wide ridicule and oppression and emerged prouder and more united, steadfast.

In conclusion, Rastafari: The Evolution of a People and Their Identity is a valuable contribution to the study of religion, politics, and culture. By reclaiming the history of the Rastafari movement and examining its resilience in the face of adversity, Price provides a fresh perspective on this influential social movement. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of race, identity, and resistance in the modern world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479888122