Research Proposal
Research Proposal
“DomFari” (Domfari.omeka.net) will be a historical and educational resource/site focused on the history of the Rastafarian Movement in Dominica and the way the Rastafarian Movement has transformed from their formation, up till today. The resource will focus on Rastafarian history and culture in Dominica, and will also briefly mention other Caribbean countries, such as Jamaica, and even the United States. The site, built on the Omeka platform, will be intended for a wide range of individuals –both academic and non-academic audiences.
Rastafarians (also known as Dreads or Rastas), had run away into the mountains, to escape poverty, depression, class discrimination, and oppression. The Rastafarian Movement itself was founded in Jamaica on November 2, 1930, when Emperor Haile Selassie I was crowned as Emperor of Ethiopia. The movement was named after him, his first name being 'Ras Tafari Makonnen'. These Rastas believed in living a self-sufficient life away from society, hence taking refuge in the rugged peaceful terrain. The ‘feels’ of the movement had travelled down to Dominica, coincidently, at a time where there was a political upheaval. The Dreads in Dominica had also run away into the mountains, and were called ‘dreads’ because of their ‘dreadful’ look (characterized by locks). Because of violent retaliation, an Act was subsequently imposed to get rid of them- ‘The Dread Act’.
According to Michael Crichton, “If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree. ” It is evident that Rastafarians still exist in Dominica –in schools, in our communities, at our workplaces etc- and most people (even some ‘Rastas’ themselves) are clueless as to where Rastafarianism originated from. We can distinguish the Rastafarians from many other people, by their dread locks, by their use of herbal medicines and also the colours they wear: red, green, gold/yellow, and black, which are known as liberation colours. Individuals in society, especially the youth, tend to imitate Rastafarian culture, such as growing locks and using marijuana, but are they aware of the reason as to why the Rastafarians follow these practices? Do they even know the history behind the Rastafarian culture? This project will not only expose information about the Rastafarians, but it will also expand one's knowledge and understanding about them.
The investigator was startled by the braveness of the Dreads, who lived in the mountains and survived by growing crops, hunting and even raiding plantations/farms. The researcher was also amazed by their determination and perseverance, and how they stood firmly for what they believed. It was quite remarkable how these people isolated themselves from society, and fended for themselves by using resources around them. By doing this project, the author will not only be able to gain knowledge about the Rastafarian movement and how it came along, but also about the history of Rastas in one's own country. Readers of this resource will get the opportunity to grasp an understanding of the Rastafarians and their culture, and also view Rastas in a different perspective.
Something the author of this resource is very interested in is the Prohibited and Unlawful Societies and Associations Act, infamously known as The Dread Act. Under the Dread Act, anyone who wore dread locks and who appeared in public was guilty of an offense and was subject to an arrest without warrant. The Act also protected those who killed or injured a member of the Dreads who was found illegally inside a dwelling house. Additionally, the security forces received immunity from the law for killing members of the Rastafarian movement. The act was passed in 1974 by the Patrick John-led Labour Party administration following violent attacks by certain members of the group against tourists and farmers, particularly in the southern part of the island. It was said that the legislation was enacted in response to a mode of panic that had hit the island. This was a quite disturbed part of Dominica’s history and the author desires to explore it in a much greater depth.
Research questions the author has decided to centralize within her project:
- What was the main influence which caused the formation of the Rastafarian movement in Dominica?
To get a clear understanding of the Rastafarians, knowing where they originated from and how they lived are two key areas which need to be explored.
- What caused the Dread Act to be passed and what were the effects of The Act on the Dominican society at the time?
The passage of the Dread Act which gave citizens the right to shoot other citizens on site without question is a quite questionable and important area to research. Why were these people being attacked like this? Why were the Rastas such a big threat? Additionally, what were the clauses under such Act? Understanding ‘The Dread Act’, and the period around it means understanding the consequent attitudes of the Rastafarians at the time, and even now.
- What were the attitudes of the Rastafarians like towards higher authority in Dominica?
- What are the residual effects on society today? Where are the Rastas now?
Primary sources for this project will include:
- Documentations Centre
- Roseau Public Library
- Court Library
- The Dominica Story: A History of The Island by Lennox Honychurch
Other primary sources include various websites, interviews, and books.
This project will primarily be a knowledge site. The aim is to introduce both academic and non-academic audiences to this particular subject which they may be unaware of, and promote it by making it more accessible for use in research or in schools –especially the classroom. Even if the audience is already aware of the topic, the site will definitely be helpful in divulging much more information to them. The project will also include simple digital edition of texts, because the researcher wants to make the text(s) widely available in an open and accessible format, and might include a timeline. The author will be looking to find images, text, audio or video as primary sources, and will be conducting interviews and/or oral histories, in addition to using already existing interviews done by the researcher herself.