Rastafarianiam : How did it emerge and survive?

The Caribbean faith of Rastafarianism emerged in the early 20th century and follows the teachings of the Jamaican black liberalist, Marcus Garvey. In the 1930s, he established a "Back to Africa" movement and preached to his followers around the world about black empowerment and black pride. This movement has come under scrutiny by various societies because of its beliefs, customs and teachings. It has been claimed that Rastafarianism is a violent cult and its beliefs are nothing short of fanaticism. However, this is not the case and this particular Caribbean faith is no different from the other religions of the world today.

In his "Back to Africa" teachings, Marcus Garvey claimed that black people rightfully belonged in Africa, not in the Western world. They belonged among their people in Ethiopia, which he also called "the promised land." However, it is clear to everyone today that this process would have been impossible.

Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Haile Selassie, Emperor of ...

Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, photographed ...

If all persons of African descent who live in the Western world and in the Caribbean, were to go back to Africa, it would become greatly over-populated and poverty would be rampant. Also, the countries that they left would become densely under-populated, causing the entire plan of relocation to basically "fall to pieces."

Rastafarians, as the religion's followers are called, believe that the spirit of the Black Messiah came in the form of Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. Marcus Garvey once prophesized that a black man would be crowned a king and that would mean redemption for people of African descent all over the world. In the year of 1920 he said, "look to Africa, when a Black king shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is at hand." Shockingly, this prophesy was fulfilled in the following year of 1930. Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned King...