Beautiful dreadlocks with a twist
on George Hamilton (Jamaica), 29/Oct/2010 10:36, 34 days ago
Yesterday took us to the Bob Marley Museum for the launch of Barbara Blake Hannah's book "Growing Out - Black Hair, Black Pride in the Swinging Sixties". Jamaica's Barbara Blake Hannah was Britain's first black TV journalist. She was also the first female Rastafarian to make her locks pretty which started an obvious fashion trend in Jamaica, even non-Rastafarian men and women sport beautiful locks and their braided counterpart now, 45 years later.Not being Jamaican, I arrived on time. OK, so I arrived a few minutes early, but as it turns out, the advantage of turning out early in Jamaica is that you get one-on-one with the guest of honour. Barbara introduced herself to me, we had a delightful chat and I got to touch her beautiful locks that were curled on top of locked and came down to her knees. Later when the Jamaicans finally arrived and the book launch began, she even mentioned me by name in her introductions of the important people in the audience!I was so happy to see that her book was entitled "Black Hair, Black Pride", not Black Skin, Black Pride because hair is so important to me. Skin colour means nothing, it's no different than the colour of our eyes, which I rarely notice and never remember. But hair is like our thumb print, it is unique, it defines us and if you change your hairstyle I will probably not recognize you. Yes, there are different colours and textures, the Celtic have that beautiful curly red, the Swedish are famous for long straight blond, the Asians for shiny black, and the Africans for their tight curly black hair which they are able to do such creative things with, but in Jamaica, the Rastafarians have created their own unique style - dreadlocks.Barbara's book is about the time she spent in England in the 60s. Besides California, what better place was there to be on earth than London? I can't critique her book since I haven't read it yet but I do have an autographed copy and I've read the "Liv-ication". That should tell you a lot about the book just for starters. She got rid of the word "dedication". She's very much alive at 70. In the Liv-ication she says this book is not for white people because it will surprise and anger us. I think this book is written precisely for us, so that we understand and overcome any prejudices we still have and forgive our parents and ancestors for their mistreatment of Jamaicans and other non-whites. I am very much aware of my British ancestry here in Jamaica and fully aware of the inequalities of the past finding myself wanting to apologize for past injustices. We should be shocked and angered at our crimes.Barbara Blake Hannah's UK roommate and lifelong friend, Beverley Anderson Manley (above), was the guest speaker. Mrs. Manley is Michael Manley's widow, he was the fourth Prime Minister of Jamaica and like Barbara, she too is a beautiful, warm and intelligent individual who we were delighted to meet and listen to talk.We had a delightful evening at the book launch which started with an introduction and blessing from a Priest of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the church of Barbara and Bob Marley and the Rastafarians. Ms. Blake Hannah first met Bob Marley on her return to Jamaica from England and became great friends with him and that's where her book ends, so it was only fitting that her launch was held at his house on Hope Road, in the neighbourhood where both Mrs Manley and Barbara lived.To see pictures of my first visit to Bob Marley Museum on George's first day of work, go to:http://mwapoleni-bunty.blogspot.com/2010/04/bob-marley-museum-and-georges-first-day.html