Fresh Air Safiya Sinclair On Cutting Herself Free From Rastafari Roots
Aug 13, 2024
Safiya Sinclair is a Jamaican poet and writer whose memoir, "How to Say Babylon," reveals her upbringing in a devout Rastafari family. In a candid discussion, she shares the emotional weight of cutting her dreadlocks at 19, marking her break from tradition and her father's expectations. Sinclair explores themes of identity, community, and empowerment through poetry, reflecting on the healing journey from her childhood pain. She also highlights the contrast between her Rastafari roots and her experiences navigating predominantly white spaces in the U.S.
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Rastafari Origins
- Rastafari history traces back to Marcus Garvey's call for a Black king and Leonard Howell's belief in Haile Selassie as that leader.
- Haile Selassie became a symbol of Black liberation, fueling the Rastafari movement during British colonial rule.
Haile Selassie as God
- Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, is considered God (Jah) by Rastafari.
- This belief stems from a prophecy by Marcus Garvey.
Garvey's Prophecy
- Jamaican abolitionist Marcus Garvey prophesied a Black king as redeemer, which Rastafari linked to Haile Selassie.
- Haile Selassie's birth name, Rastafari Makonnen, became the source of the movement's name.
