“People looking at me funny is so common that it doesn’t stick out for me anymore. It’s something I’ve gotten used to… I’ll leave this school and there will be teachers who never knew I was one of the people on the honor roll,” stated Akintunde Ahmad when being interviewed about his academic success. He has earned a 5.0 GPA, a 2100 on the SAT, and acceptance into a number of top universities and ivy league schools; he also plays baseball and three instruments.

When I first started to write this article, I was going to write about the contrast between Ahmad’s success and his image. However, while reading through various articles published on his academic accomplishments, I came upon one source, uptownmagazine.com, that stated: “Ahmad and his family are practicing Rastafarians. Because of his faith, the teen has never had a haircut and wears dreadlocks. His parents, Zarina (an elementary school principal) and Mubarak Ahmad (a mechanic for AC Transit), raised all six of their children with good values.” I immediately wanted to know more about such a practice as I had no idea what a “Rastafarian” was.

What I found out from Ahmad, when I contacted him personally, really helped to put everything I was reading about Rastafarianism into a concise statement. He wrote, “For my family, being a Rastafarian is about living a natural lifestyle, and acknowledging the way the creator made me. I acknowledge Ethiopia as the place that creation began, and I see Haile Selassie as our prophet of God. I feel that there is the spirit of Jah/God in every person, and every one is original[ly] created with a righteous spirit.” Further research provided me with a more detailed understanding of Rastafarian principles and customs.

“It was in the classroom that Akintunde began his path to success,” stated the news reporter on ABC 7 News. HOLD UP! WAIT A MINUTE! Did she just attribute his accomplishments to the white man’s institution? Akintunde’s success did not begin in the classroom! It did not begin when he opened a textbook or when he turned in his first homework success. His success, as a student, an athlete, a brother, and a son should first and foremost be attributed to the principles by which he lives his life. These principles being learned in the home, not the classroom.

Practicing Rastafarians are taught to love themselves and reinforce positive black identities. They reject Babylon, or any forms of oppression against the black race, through their cultural practices or customs. For example, wearing the hair in dreads is seen as a form of rejection against the dominant social culture. The way Rastafarians express themselves on the outside is supposed to mirror their beliefs within, so their appearance correlates with their level of alliance – which is slim to none- to the dominant social order. Usually, this dominant social order requires cut, trimmed hair, unlike the dreads, which are regarded as a form of natural living.

One principle I find interesting and uplifting at the same time is the idea that Blacks are the original and God-like people. The idea that God is internal rather than external; “God is man and man is God” stems from the belief that because God is internal, the individual can become more godly through his/her search for the inner self. The bodies are to be regarded as temples and if a person is to become more godly, then he/she must take care of their body, for example, through a healthy diet. The simple idea of cleanliness internally to allow for the spiritual development within seems like a necessity for any black individual. Associating clean eating with the process of complete upliftment serves as a guide for the individual in a multi-step process toward reinforcing a positive self-image. Yes, it is in relation to man becoming more godly, which some people might find taboo, however, it is still a principle that the black community should take into great consideration when choosing what religious practice or social groups they want to be apart of. We don’t take health as serious as we should and it doesn’t seem like the white man’s Christian practice is helping in that area either.

There is more I could say about this topic, but then I’d be writing an entire research paper. There are multiple points that I’m trying to make in this article. First, news reporters don’t know shit! Second, Akintunde’s success is not driven by white supremacist values but, as he states, “Mostly just trying to be open to everybody else’s ideas and opinions and not passing judgement on others.” Third, there are different principles in social groups, such as the Rastafari movement, that can truly uplift the black community in a spiritual manner, ultimately leading to a mental transformation that serves as a form of liberation, which is then expressed externally. Lastly, the black community must discover a way to think for themselves while strategically participating in American culture/society. We must recognize our African roots and thus move forward with our goals of independence and never ending self-discovery. Peace!