In the 1900's Africa was almost entirely colonized by European Countries. Africa was sought after because of it's wealth of resources such as Diamonds, Gold, food, and of course slave labor.
The people of African Counties were not benefiting from the wealth of their land. Around this time Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican entrepreneur was
very vocal about this injustice. In 1930 when Selassie became Emperor of Ethiopia it seemed as if things were beginning to change. Selassie was of direct decent from the House of David.
For many this was significant. David's son Solomon had a child with Queen Sheba and Selassie was in this family line. Finally a African Country was ruled by an African. Selassie then gave a portion of
Ethiopia to anybody who was of African Decent and had been displaced to another land. Many saw him as a sort of Moses. In Jamaica, a large group of people "Ras Tafarians" believed that Selassie was a second coming of Jesus.
Rastafarians actually share a great deal with Jews. For instance much of the Ital diet comes almost directly from the laws of diet in Mosaic Law. Many reggae performers make a pilgrimage to Israel.
Unfortunately Selassie did not live up to the expectations that many had held for him. Marcus Garvey, who had once been a big supporter, wrote articles in his paper in an outrage
because he felt Selassie had become a traitor to Black Nationalism.
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