Rastafari March in memory of Coral Gardens Incident

[jamaica-gleaner.com]

Oh how I wish I could be there for this real Rasta gathering, these are the kinda vibes I love! And what a great lineup - Tarrus, Kulcha 'Naki' Knox, Mikey General, Ifrica, Chezidek, Cen'c Love, Chronixx, Jah9, Iba Mahr, Warrior King, Bushman.........

If I had known about this earlier, I would have definitely gone. It's funny, I met a Ras at the private government screening for Songs of Redemption who said he was the Executive Director of the Ethiopian Millineum Council. He wanted my help in photographing some upcoming projects. He called me after I returned to the US and we talked about next steps. He never once mentioned this March and now I am wondering if he truly is a representative for the Council or just a member.

This seems like an awesome event! Having played college soccer here in the states, I would love to see the Iritikal Kush Vs the Rastafari All Stars in the Football match. Then move on to some great music! Sounds like my kinda day! As Haile Bless said, this lineup is amazing. Nuff great artists on the set list.

It strikes me that this "apology" comes 50 years too late, now that all the guilty parties are long dead and therefore absolved of guilt.

Reel

Not all are dead. Prince Elijah Williams (Book of Memory) and some members of his generation are still around. However, your point is well taken. I am not sorry to see the apology come even late as an open admission to the injustices incurred may (may is operative) set a precedence for the future. One can only hope.

Michael Kuelker who co-authored Book of Memory may be able to give us more background on who is still alive from that era.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2013 12:27PM by Sista Irie.

I am not referring to the likes of Prince Elijah Williams but rather the police and politicians who engineered this genocide.

Reel

Quote
The man
It strikes me that this "apology" comes 50 years too late, now that all the guilty parties are long dead and therefore absolved of guilt.

Reel

I was hesitant to post the article since I, too, thought "Oh now you decide to apologize".....but I wanted to get some of the back story on this thread.

Thanks for the clarification, Reel. Understood.

[www.jamaicaobserver.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2013 06:46PM by Sista Irie.

There was a second march that took place yesterday orchestrated by Muta. it was in memory of Tivoli Gardens violence from 2010. It was well attended. No stageshow, just speeches much like we experienced in the seventies. Muta's point is that it is not just Rasta violated any more.

[jamaica-gleaner.com]

I am 100% with Jah Reel on this one, its only the greedy government seeing $ in rasta nowadays that makes them even recognize these sort of tragedies. Back in the day when it was relevent they didn't care or worse set it up. F*ck the JA government...they are what amount to war criminals and participating in these sort of demonstrations just condones the past behaviour. Where are the serious reparations? And how come it took until the principals were dead for this "praise and recognition" to come about. Real rasta don't care about what the government says.

ok
fred

Yes there are still some patriarchs & matriarchs who were downpressed in the Incident who are still with us. One of the themes of the commemorations I have attended is recognition not only of the past atrocities but of the present needs of these rapidly aging elders.

The documentary film Bad Friday is of recent vintage (2011) with interviews with eyewitnesses & survivors. They're still here, some of them. I agree, official apologies could have come much sooner ... but I am sure one of the official concerns has been, "On whose behalf are we apologizing?" Apologies, fine. But what about liability and reparations, rightly ask the Rastas.

E-book people might also want to look at a work by Selbourne Reid, a retired policeman who was in the JCF in '63 and was a first responder to the initial clash. One of the most devastating details raised by Reid is his observation that police in training used images of a beards-man for target practice. (He appears in Bad Friday to render the same memory.) Mr. Reid is a born-again Christian, so his narrative takes some turns in that direction, but his memories of Coral Gardens '63 are an important component of the formal record.

Michael, how do we find the writings by Mr. Reid?

All of this makes me think we need a reggae conference and workshop in the USA to share and align a reggae movement.

Jah Lewis-nice tune at Jack Rubys of course. One of Earth Last Messengers This lineup is huge.





I say... Some Never Plant yet want to Reap,
Be careful, try to look before you leap;
Took a little walk from my Vineyard...
Now I'm all alone..



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2013 07:42PM by papaken.

We DO need a reggae conference. I know such a venture is a huge undertaking, but it would be great for so many reasons.

I found Selbourne Reid's e-book by doing a search for "Rasta" in iTunes books. There are some odd features to the book, including a clunky title (1963 Rastafarian’s Rebellion Coral Gardens Montego Bay Jamaica) and poorly selected stock photos on the cover ... But I just now did a keyword search and see his book available in paperback. New cover art -- a personal pic where Mr Reid is doing his best TD Jakes.

Michael, any chance BOOK OF MEMORY will come back into publication?

yES, i NEED a copy of BOOK OF MEMORY as well

I say... Some Never Plant yet want to Reap,
Be careful, try to look before you leap;
Took a little walk from my Vineyard...
Now I'm all alone..

here's 1 copy
[www.abebooks.com]

Book of Memory is being prepared for republication, yes! The new edition will have expanded photos, revised endnotes and amped-up Rasta/patois glossary. Thanks for asking!

I am 100% with Jah Reel on this one, its only the greedy government seeing $ in rasta nowadays that makes them even recognize these sort of tragedies. Back in the day when it was relevent they didn't care or worse set it up. F*ck the JA government...they are what amount to war criminals and participating in these sort of demonstrations just condones the past behaviour. Where are the serious reparations? And how come it took until the principals were dead for this "praise and recognition" to come about. Real rasta don't care about what the government says

Ok_fred speakin' truth inna little way different handle here lately!

I say... Some Never Plant yet want to Reap,
Be careful, try to look before you leap;
Took a little walk from my Vineyard...
Now I'm all alone..

Passed through this show briefly last night. Caught a few artists but not many. One that I found more impressive than I thought I would was Chronixx and his band. Though there's still room for improvement from his as a performer - his band was incredibly on point

[jamaica-gleaner.com]

Observer