The Religion of Rastafarianism Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

The Religion of Rastafarianism - Term Paper Example The ideology of Rastafarianism emerged from the black peasants and the working classes. The ideology evolved from the interpretation of the prophecy in the bible as Garvey proclaimed that a Black King would be born and crowned the Redeemer (MacFarlane, Nathaniel, and William 1-50). The crowning of Ras Tafari Makonnen as the king of Ethiopia on November 2, 1930, was a strengthened the movement. When he was crowned the king, Tafari claimed the title of Emperor Haile Selassie I, which meant the power of the Trinity. Other titles accorded to Selassie included King of Kings and Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The Rastafari movement gained prominence and immense following during the 1930s. This precipitated the spread of the movement from Jamaica to the rest of the Caribbean. Apart from Marcus Garvey, some of the movements’ early leaders included Leonard Howell who was arrested because of spreading a doctrine that was perceived as revolutionary. The arrest of Howell strengthened the movement in Jamaica and other Caribbean nations (MacFarlane, Nathaniel, and William 1-50). Garveyism and the doctrines of Marcus Garvey contributed to the Rastafarian movement in numerous ways. Garveyism was instrumental to the spread of Rastafarianism as it advocated for the freedom of blacks from social, economic, as well as political oppression by the whites. Garveysim advocated for the unity of blacks both in Africa and abroad. Marcus Garvey enlightened both the peasants and bourgeoisie in Jamaica by instilling in them the hope that the future will be bright. Garvey prophesied that Africa and Africans would unite and rise against the powers of the west.  Ã‚