Rastafarianism - An Introduction
 Rastafarianism
is a messianic movement originating in Jamaica. In Rastafarianism, the
god "Jah" is worshiped and Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie,
the emperor of Ethiopia, is the Messiah of the black race. "Ras Tafari,"
the great-grandson of King Saheka Selassie of Shoa, was crowned Negus
of Ethiopia and took on the name of Haile Selassie (Might of the Trinity).
Jah is an abbreviation of Jehovah, who is the God of the black races from
Egypt and Ethiopia. The Rastafarian movement has its origins with the
slave trade and the repression of the black people in Jamaica by the white
ruling class.
Years of socio-economic struggle and a lack of religious identity of
the black majority fostered the rebellious "Back to Africa Movement,"
which was started by a black Jamaican named Marcus Garvey in the early
1900's. This movement spurred sentiments of black supremacy, and called
for the abolition of white dominance. This ideology gained a spiritual
connotation and fervor with the crowning of Haile Selassie as emperor
of Ethiopia in 1930, as it was seen as a revelation of God and fulfillment
of the biblical prophecy in Psalm 68: "Princes shall come out of
Egypt; and Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God."
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