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Jamaica
Hair and Politics
The Rastafari wear dreadlocks as a sign of their covenant with the Creator. Allowing one's hair to grow untouched was seen to represent man in his "natural" state and also came to symbolize freedom and rebellion in Jamaica and around the world.
Musician Bob Marley, assisted by the political climate created by Michael Manley's administration, popularized dreadlocks in the 1970s. Until then, dreadlocked Jamaicans were often harassed for their naturalist beliefs, respect for African identity, and struggles against the status quo. Today, many around the world have adopted the locks as hairstyle.
Hair as a symbol of power, freedom, and defiance for African Americans? Look in the "Style: Image and Identity" section of this gallery. |