The Editor, Sir:
am writing in response to the article "12 types of Rastas" by Billy Hall which appeared in The Sunday Gleaner on March 17, 2002.
Mr. Hall's 12 categories are specious, vapid and reflect no real research or analysis about Rastafari.
The article is designed to mock and discredit the beliefs of Rastas and serves to misinform persons about the Rastafari community.
Mr. Hall bases his "analysis" of Rastafari on set of very negative stereotypes which not only Rastafari but black people have fought against for years.
Throughout the 12 categories there is not one positive mention about the real contribution that Rastafari has made to Jamaica's economy, history and culture.
What is presented through Mr. Hall's article is that Rastas are a dirty, idle, vexed, scowling people who engage in criminal acts, self-deception and are deviants in society.
There is evident deception on the part of Mr. Hall to confuse the public about the Rastafari faith.
He makes broad generalisations and presents his shallow and limited observations as undisputed facts.
In the article, under the "Breadfruit Rasta" category, Mr. Hall sprouts the following drivel as fact: "Many of these [Rastas] come from broken homes. Most of the young women are either pregnant or already has at least one child".
What Mr. Hall does not realise is that the behaviour found in the 12 categories are applicable to any set of people in the entire world. There are people who exhibit the same behaviour and attitudes outlined but they are not Rastas.
Rastafarians are people too and it is logical that one would find some with this behaviour within the Rastafari community.
However, like any set of people, this cannot be accepted as a true representation of an entire way of life. It is unfair for Mr. Hall to lump the culture and beliefs of these people into his faulty and ludicrous categories.
I noted that Mr. Hall is acknowledged as a Christian journalist and perhaps this is where his religious views have created this prejudicial treatment of Rastas.
The article is really one of "Rasta Bashing", as he states: "Many of those [Rastas] because of past genuine Christian understanding, perjure their consciences to remain Rastas, trapped in an alien theology but cultural ideology".
Mr. Hall's 12 categories reminded me of those bubble gum puff pieces one finds in beauty magazines and tabloids with titles like "12 ways to love your man" or "12 types of women, which one are you?".
I usually do enjoy reading the articles in the In Focus section, so please keep up the good work and don't let In Focus become shortsighted.
I am etc,
S. JOHNSON
carbonangel@hotmail.com
Kingston 6
