homework

1. Roger Mairs Biography

Roger Mais  was born on August 11, 1905 in Kingston Jamaica. He was a Jamaican journalist, novelist, poet, and playwright. He was born to a middle-class family in Kingston, Jamaica. By 1951, Mais had won ten first prizes in West Indian literary competitions. His integral role in the development of political and cultural nationalism is evidenced in his being awarded the high honor of the Order of Jamaica in 1978.Mais launched his career as a journalist and contributor for the weekly newspaper, Public Opinion from 1939 to 1952, which was associated with the People's National Party. He also wrote several plays, reviews, and short stories for the newspaper Focus and the Jamaica Daily Gleaner, focusing his articles on social injustice and inequality. He used this approach to reach his local audience and to primarily push for a national identity and anti-colonialism.Mais has published over a hundred short stories, where most can be found in Public Opinion and Focus.Mais left for England in 1952. Mais ventured to Europe-London, Paris, and the south of France-to fulfill himself; he took an alias, Kingsley Croft, and showcased an art exhibition in Paris. His artwork also appeared on the covers of his novels. After he left Jamaica, his novel The Hills Were Joyful Together had been accepted for publishing by Jonathan Cape in London. Soon afterwards, Brother Man was published. Brother Man(1954) was a sympathetic exploration of the emergent Rastafari movement. His short stories were collected in a volume entitled Listen, The Wind, thirty-two years after his death. Mais's novels have been republished posthumously several times, an indication of his continuing importance to Caribbean literary history. He also had an influence on younger writers of the pre-independence period, notably John Hearne.

 Critics about Brother Man
One critic, Edward Braithewaite states in his introduction that brother man is roger mais's best novel because it reflects all of the authors varied talents. here, good and evil in the jamaican slums are brought to life. the book details the origins of the rastafarian cult and the heroes christ like walk against a chorus of ordinary people.

Religious aspect in regards to Rastafarian

Rastafari developed in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1920s and 30s. In an environment of great poverty, depression, racism and class discrimination, the Rasta message of black pride, freedom from oppression, and the hope of return to the African homeland was gratefully received.The Rastafarian movement began with the teachings of Marcus Garvey (1887-1940), a black Jamaican who led a "Back to Africa" movement. He taught that Africans are the true Israelites and have been exiled to Jamaica and other parts of the world as divine punishment.

 Beliefs

Rastafarians believe in the Judeo-Christian God, whom they call Jah. In general, Rastafarian beliefs are based in Judaism and Christianity, with an emphasis on Old Testament laws and prophecies and the Book of Revelation. Allegorical meaning is often sought in the Holy Piby. Rastafarians do not believe in an afterlife, but instead look to Africa (called "Zion") as a heaven on earth. True Rastas are believed to be immortal, both physically and spiritually, a concept called "everliving."

How they are seen in today's society

Rastafarian are seen as religious people who worship there selasi jah in the highest way. Futhermore there are some negative ways in which  people see rastafarian, like the way they carry themself,  their dressing and their use of marijuana, which people think is a bad influence to the youths in the society. Rastafarian are also seen in positive ways, for example their eating habits, rastafarians eat healthy food on a daily basis, they do not include meat in their such as chicken, which proved that they have a good diet. For today, people and rastas does not communicate as how normal people would, because majority of people in society are very racists whenever it comes to rastafarianism.