Book on Rastafari launched
The Rastafari Movement: A North American and a Caribbean Perspective by Dr Michael Barnett
Over the years there have been numerous books written on Rastafari; not many however by actual members of the faith. The most recent, from an insider’s perspective, is authored by Dr Michael Barnett, titled The Rastafari Movement: A North American And Caribbean Perspective. The book was launched recently at the Multi-functional Room of the Main Library at The UWI, Mona campus.
This latest book on Rastafari, although written from an insider’s point of view, does not in any way seek to romanticise the culture of the Rastafari Movement, but instead takes a critical and analytical look from where it started to where it now stands, and the way forward.
This book about Rastafari and written by a Rastafari is a collection of in depth research from various historical and contemporary sources.
During his presentation at the launch, Professor in the Department of Government Clinton Hutton noted, “The depth in which he [Dr Barnett] went to articulate the different aspects of the movement… the Rastafari Movement [can] benefit from it… one thing about this book is that the author was very concerned about identity and that is the importance of the book… the history of Rastafari, the different periods, the emergence of the different houses or mansions [organisations], the internationalisation of Rastafari, the music that spread Rastafari around the world, reflections on the current status of Rastafari, its commercialisation, how relevant is it (the movement) today, has it lost its radical and African-centred moral compass and appropriation of its values.”
“In a nutshell, I decided to write a book on the Rastafari Movement, primarily to clear up any misconceptions about the movement, of which many abound, even today,” Barnett informed Bookends after the launch, “and to provide the opportunity for much-needed reflection on the relative well-being and vibrancy of the Rastafari Movement today.”
He added, “There is much literature that exists on the Rastafari movement, much of it from an outsider’s perspective as opposed to an insider’s perspective. However, many of the difficult questions have not been attended to. Why is it that centralisation of the movement, where there is one voice and one accord on certain issues, has thus far been difficult to attain? How has the movement been impacted with transition of many of its charismatic leaders?”
“There have been recent efforts to fill what may be perceived as a power vacuum in the movement (at least so far as Jamaica is concerned). How has this impacted the overall stability of the movement? In terms of what I hope the overall impact/contribution of the book will be, by considering the actual history and trajectory of the movement from an analytical point of view, and by becoming more sensitive to the actual nuanced differences between the various mansions, Rastafari adherents will be better able to carve out solutions for the movement as a whole, in terms of achieving/actualising the large-scale objectives such as internal reparations, repatriation, economic independence. Members of the movement must now take a level-headed approach to move things forward.”
Dr Michael Barnett is presently a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work, UWI, Mona.