Andrej,

Love and Rebellion. That's beautiful! I couldn't agree more fully, that those
two things have always gone together in Rasta Reggae, and ought
to be twinned among those who promote and make the culture.

If we have only a concept of "One Love" without rebellion against the
Babylon System, then we are blind. If we are only rebelling, without
also bigging up "One Blood" or some other "more attractive alternative,"
then clearly that is also a form of mental slavery.

That people in Yugoslavia would sight both of these elements: both
rebellion against dictatorship, and "One Blood" as the cure for the
disease of racism/nationalism, seems to be a tremendous inspiration.
And evidence of the potential truth of what Bob said: "This music can
unify the whole universe!"

Well, I am inspired to hear of another Idren doing works on multiple fronts:
radio shows, university teaching and research; social activism; and
journalism. Forward!

As to your question: "White Boy A Follower? From Black Supremacy to
One Love in Rasta reggae" is not a text, but a radio show, although with
lots of Reasoning. It's at:
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~scottie/rrr.html <http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~scottie/rrr.htmlIf>
If you don't have access to RealAudio, I can send it to
you on cassette, on minidisc, or after the New Year on CD. It has
aired on several stations here in the U.S. Some of the themes from this
show are discussed in the JahWorks innerview:
www.jahworks.org/music/books_reviews/racial_front.html <http://www.jahworks.org/music/books_reviews/racial_front.html>

I hope we can do some kinds of exchanges: between radio shows we do,
articles, etc. Perhaps you can write a report on the Reggae Days in
Belgrade for the RAW forum, or for one of websites to whom this
discussion has been CCed.

Maybe some day, you can speak over here, where I'm sure many RAW
members would support you. Hopefully I and some other folks from this
side of the water can visit your country, and lend our support in your
struggle for "true democracy." I've done many dozens of lectures this past year on the
dual themes of One Blood, and rebellion against the Babylon System.

Showers of blessings,
Gregory Stephens (RAW 1243)

----- Original Message -----
From: Andrej Grubacic <mailto:zapata@sezampro.yu>
To: gstephens@ou.edu <mailto:gstephens@ou.edu>
Cc: infor@jahworks.org <mailto:infor@jahworks.org> ; Geoffrey Parker <mailto:geoffjp@reggaezine.co.uk>
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 1:09 PM
Subject: Andrej Grubacic, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Dear George, [should be Gregory--G.S.]
When I met U-Roy this summer, he took my hand and pointed to my skin. He said "see? Underneath we have the same blood. One Blood, One Tribe, One Love. That is what this music is all about". It was short, effective and persuasive. And the very essence of reggae culture, and reasons of my fascination with reggae culture, became clear to me.
I am, always, referring to reggae as to a coheent "culture". As far as my opinion is worth, this is a culture of love and rebellion. Reggae has it's political philosophy. Sure, rasta reggae is a way of life, system of more or less organized believes, but the thing which is most attractive to people who are not black, like you and me, is this moment of rebellion and alternative "attractive vision" as you have intelligently put it.
State oppression, Church oppression ( Babylon oppression), colonization, neo colonization, new world order ( or new word hawdah, and "semantic deceptions" as LKJ is singing), and love, oneness, unity and RESISTANCE as alternatives, are moments which are making "white boys being a followers". In my opinion. Fashion ( fascination with music when it becomes popular in certain time or place with certain explanations, dreadlocks and ganja) is excluded. It has it's share , good deal of it perhaps, but I am referring only to devoted reggae fans like you and me. Your letter is extremely interesting and informative. These are all questions which are bothering me from the day one when I started being fascinated with reggae music ( being a black music); when I have discovered realm of what might be called reggae culture, as depicted above, my dilemmas were solved. But the same, persistent, questions are, as I can see, still actual: are we outsiders? I agree with you that we are not, and I do acknowledge and fully understand the concept of "white liberal guilt". Like you, I am an "University rat", and I endorse and accept these excellent formulations coming from your pen:

>The beauty of Rasta-influenced reggae is that it speaks to many different people
at the same time. It's partly about black liberation, and the memory of
slavery and colonialism is central. But it's also about
multi-racial redemption (One Love). And let me tell you, my brother,
strictly One Blood I a deal with. So knowing my history (African at the roots,
by way of Ireland), and knowing the role Europeans in a long history struggle
against slavery, racism, etc., I never see myself as an outsider.
It is a culture and a movement with roots in people of many nations, although
I always pay respect to Africans as having laid the cornerstone of this culture.
But if it were "only black," then you wouldn't be organizing anti-racist
manifestations in Yugoslavia.<

This is truly a beautiful passage. It is a summary of my own convictions regarding reggae culture. And they are very close to me because I am a historian. I like to study reggae whilst loving it. This is what keeps me going on with reggae music and culture. I am puzzled that this question still remains so delicate:

>You speak in your note about the role of "white reggae-lovers," and this is
something I think a lot of people are in denial about. <

Your proposal about a dialogue on this question is excellent. I have offered a few thoughts above. I am going to read your articles on the web. I was wondering do you have this text in paper ( Word, e-mail) or is it just on real audio?
"White Boy A Follower? From Black Supremacy to 'One Love' in Rasta Reggae"

Reggae Power Movement is a group of young people who believe in racial, international and social solidarity. They believe that one way to achieve this solidarity is to cherish reggae, African and world music and culture. We have three important components we are embracing: music, culture and society. We are editing - publishing - a magazine with a name which summarizes our program in two simple words: _ONE LOVE_. Working in this way, we are organizing few annual manifestations ( Days of Reggae and African Culture, anti racist manifestations, Bob Marley day, Peter Tosh day, Fela Kuti day and so on) and we are trying to establish a RAW model of network-organization. We are a network which embraces few reggae bands , many Dj's, three Radio Shows only in Belgrade, and a few more in towns in inner Serbia. Many , many members, but always short with money and fresh CD releases because of social realty here in Yugoslavia.
We are doing a promotional attempts also: we are organizing, on 14 and 15th of December , Days of Reggae in Belgrade, with guests from UK and Jamaica, Caribbean cuisine ( Ital food), movies, art exhibitions influenced by reggae....
We are trying to promote cultural component of our activities: excellent relationships with African Embassies, African art galleries and so on. We have held numerous lectures on Africa, Caribbean, poetry, literature, art in general ....
Our political role ( e.g..: we are initiators of anti-militarist initiative called "Dismissed") got us into trouble with previous , ancien regime of Slobodan Milosevic, but it is , thank God, all over now.
That's about it.
Please, let's stay in touch. Your work is impressive and I am sure that I am going ( and the others from RPM) to benefit very much from your knowledge and experience.
A quick note about my reggae biography: I am a host of most popular reggae Radio Show here, _Reggae Power FM_ , I also work as a reggae DJ, I write and lecture a lot about reggae music and culture and my profession and public appearance are helping me a lot ( I am historian and I am doing some other *public* things); I have organized Reggae Power Movement, which is now a fine Trans Yugoslav network which rests on enthusiasm and life & political philosophy of One Blood.
Looking forward hearing from you,
Yours,
Andrej

Guidance,
Andrej, founding member of RPS

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Andrej Grubacic RPS # 1
RAW # 1505
Gospodar Jevremova 46
11 000 Belgrade
Serbia/ Yugoslavia
Reggae Power Society Belgrade
web site on:
http://www.welcome.to/reggae_power/ <http://www.welcome.to/reggae_power/>
e-mail: reggaepower@africamail.com <mailto:reggaepower@africamail.com>
Promotion of Reggae and African Music and Culture
DJ's, Press, Radio Shows, Promotion
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~