February 03, 2022

Rasta, Rocksteady and Race: Jamaica in the Early '60s

1 hour 11 minutes

In this week's episode Tim and Jeremy turn their attention to the island of Jamaica. They recount a history of Jamaica as a British Colony and the liberation struggles that grew up in the face of Imperial rule, including the work of Marcus Garvey, the Back to Africa movement, and the eventual socialist prime minister Michael Manley. We hear about the emergence of Rastafarianism in the early Twentieth century, considering the importance of Zion or a promised land to the Rastas, their development into an anti-colonial vanguard, and the role of Indian mystical and religious rites on their own spiritual practices.

Jeremy and Tim also introduce us to some major players of the early '60s Jamaican music scene, including the head of Studio One Coxsone Dodd and the founder of Island Records Chris Blackwell. Finally, the pair reflect on how the history of Abolition has been written, how we should seek to remain transparent in the present, and tie these questions of historiography to the BLM protests and toppling of the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol in 2020.

Tim Lawrence and Jeremy Gilbert are authors, academics, DJs and audiophile dance party organisers. They’ve been friends and collaborators since 1997, teaching together and running parties since 2003. With clubs closed and half their jobs lost to university cuts, they’re inevitably launching a podcast.

Produced and edited by Matt Huxley.

Tune in, Turn on, Get Down!

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Tracklist:

Lord Power & Calypso Quintet - Penny Reel

Andy & Joey - I Want To Know

Delroy Wilson - I Want Justice

Lance Haywood And Ernest Ranglin - Begin The Beguine

Owen Gray and the Caribs - Mash It

Bob Marley - Judge Not

Millie Small - My Boy Lollipop

Books and Films: