When asked the question of: rastafarian movement has been viewed in a negative light by many and stereotypes are attached to them .Based on this have you ever experience discrimination and what type of discrimination if any? (Discrimination can be in terms of negative slurs, falsely accused of a crime etc) It was unanimous among Rastafarians, that the movement had been viewed in a negative life by many. However their reasons for this vary as many believe it was because of lack of education and awareness by the general public, others believe it was because of the use of marijuana or ganja as an sacrament by the faith and it is off a black culture stated by Rastafarian number 8 “because it was of a black culture, you would see many people looking down …show more content…
Many of the Rastafarians interviewed believed the lack of knowledge of the movement that had caused intolerance to be displayed against them. One Rastafarian stated that “that everything is based on education and the lack of knowledge ‘. Others believed it is because of the use of cannabis during their sacraments “I do not want to call it outright discrimination, but we are stigmatize because of the herb “. Two Rastafarian stated it is because of the stereotype attached to their faith “rasta man hair always out of place, always looking dred” Another stated that it is because “Rastafari is a movement against the system and the system is a oppressing system, because once rastafari rise up , they are enemy to the system”. He also stated that during the colonial days “once you started to grow locks, it seems like your rebelling against the system “. When asked are you aware of any circumstances where outright discrimination has taken place against a fellow Rastafarian? Many gave accounts of their fellow Rastafarians who were held in People Revolutionary Government detention centre in Hope Vale, St George