Quote Originally Posted by Reefer Rogue
Originally, the religion founded was to unite the african people against western imperialisation and their governing bodies and laws (babylon) Haile Selassie 1 does NOT condone racism of any kind, what so ever. It is perfectly acceptable for a white person to follow the Rastafari movement.
First, Rasta is NOT a religion... ISMS create SCHISMS and as such Rastas specifically refrain from calling their beliefs/movement a "religion".

Second, as Tea Party pointed out there are many houses of Rasta. For example TTI (Twelve Tribes of Isreal) Rastas do allow whites while many of the more fundamentalist rasta houses like the Nyabinghi frown on it.

I've never met a true Rasta who would be upset by a white man trying to live a spiritual/Rasta way of life... but to call one self a Rasta whitout having to endure the I-story of it is (I thing) sacriligous.

I believe it is OK for a white person to "follow the Rastafari " as you so aptly put it... but NOT OK for a white man to call him/herself a Rasta. I am a follower of Rasta livity and live as close to the lifestyle as InI can here in Babylon. Even though I was given the name Ras Bardhylis by a couple Rasta brothers after saving their lives when their boat sank, I do not and would not call I-self a Rasta as I see it as stealing their culture. Besides who cares wat you "call" yourself... just be good and be true and don't worry about what label you put on yourself.

Here is the beginning of an article InI wrote some time ago... also a link to some postings by some Rasta brethren & sistren.

What are the Rasta beliefs... and can white people be Ratsas ?

Posted by: Ras Bardhylis (aka Capt Jim)

Raspects and Greetings brethren & sistren in the name of Jah (God) almighty, His Son Jezu Kristy (Iyesus Kristos, Jesus Christ) and His Imperial Majesty Haille Selassie I.

I lavdëruar qoftë Zoti. (Praise be to Jah),

This question a subject that has raged on an on in other Rasta reasoning rooms for quite some time. I like to think of myself an Albanian I-merican follower of Rasta livity (but do Not call myself a Rasta for reasons you'll soon overstand). Rasta is not something you wake up one day and say "I'm a Rasta" or "I wanna be a Rasta" or "I'm gonna convert to Rasta". It's something you feel... something that calls to you & comes over you... something you are constantly striving to achieve, always a work in progress. I have ALWAYS been a Rasta at heart... always had "the positive vibrations", just didn't know what it was until my friend turned me on to Bob Marley in 1973. Since then, as I said, it's been a slow progression... a constant learning curve. I wasted many years and have done many wrongs in the eyes of Jah... only in 1990 beginning getting truely serious about Rasta livity. It is defItely NOT something you do to smoke weed, grow dreads, listen to reggae or just be different!

clicky clicky... AQUA SHACK

Peace Out & Jah bless all His Idren