Rasta Lessons: Dreadlocks

I'm going to try to compile different explanations for dreadlocks from the vault of Asher's thoughts. :)

In my opinion - there seems to be more good reasons for wearing dreadlocks than not.

Popularized by the Rastafarian movement, dreadlocks are associated with ganja culture and rebellion. However, dreadlocks have been worn long before the "Dreads" from Jamaica. Dreadlocks have been found worn by Egyptian mummies. Dreads are worn by Nazerites in Judaism. It is also said that James, the brother of Jesus wore dreadlocks down to his ankles. It is possible that dreadlocks were worn by early Christians. Dreadlocks are worn by Sathus in Hinduism as well as by Coptic Christians. Closer to the Rastas heart, dreadlocks were worn by the soldiers in Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising (1952-1960). This uprising involved Kenyan ethnic groups rebelling against colonial rule. To the Rastas, dreadlocks are supported by the biblical reference to Samson.

Rastafarianism started as a movement in the 1930's but dreads didn't gain mass appeal until about the 1950's. The attitude behind it was that (among other things) the colonial powers want the people to look how they want people to look. But as we rebel against the colonial powers we will not look how they want us to look. We will be dreadful to look upon. Thus, dreadlocks.
Dreadlocks also symbolize the lion's mane. Associations with the lion draw reference to Haile Selassie I as the conquering lion of Judah. Lions I believe also bring imagery of the mother continent to the mental foreground. Dreads also represent roots. Rastafarians have a strong sense of history and there is a draw to restore things like culture to the way it was before colonialism. This kind of thinking is roots thinking.

Dreadlocks can be an identifier in that the longer they are the longer you have belonged to the faith. You can also tell alot by the color of the locks. Locks will naturally turn brown or even grey. Some people who wear dread locks are called Natty Dreads because they dye their locks black to make them look nice. Natty Dreads are most likely to be wearing dreads for fashion. Natty is a word that means 'pretty'.

On the reverse side - according to a popular Morgan Heritage song - "You don't haffi be dread to be Rasta" You don't need to wear locks to live a Rasta lifestyle.