THE REPUTABLE BARBARA BLAKE HANNAH
The intellectual fraternity of Rastafari should acknowledge the vast resources within the female members of the movement and start to pool all available Rastafari human resources to make the movement better. The Rastafari Movement must build on the spiritual empowerment of Empress Menen, Empress Titu and Queen Nyah Binghi to move forward the next level of Rastafari governance, thus the female balance within the Rastafari movement is very crucial in this time.
In this capacity, I recommend the recruitment of the reputable Barbara Blake Hannah to the operations committees of the local Rastafari movement. Empress Makeda Blake Hannah is defined by her character of reliance, determination, trust, high worthiness, high morality and sense of purpose. She is Rastafari first and foremost and a devout Ethiopian Orthodox Christian.
While many were not bold enough to enter the political arena, it was brave heart “Makeda” who shrugged off the critics and was the first Rastafari to serve in the Office of 3 Jamaica Prime Ministers: Michael Manley , Edward Seaga and Bruce Golding, and the first to be appointed a Senator in the Jamaican Parliament. She also made history in 1968 when she became the first Black TV journalist in Britain on the THAMES –TV‘s daily evening show.
To overcome obstacles is the joy of her life; no challenge is too great to overcome. At age 44 Barbara brought forth her only child and son Makonnen whom she successfully home schooled, thus setting the good the example for others to follow. On the journey and path of excellence, the intellectual ability of Makonnen graced many prestigious places and institutions such as Harvard, MIT, NASA Microsoft, and more. He is also a proud recipient of the first Institute of Jamaica Junior Musgrave Award (2001).
Her inner vision for good parenting is firm in the knowledge that the parents are still students of life, thus to teach an individual it should not be a regimental procedure. Experimental teaching is essential with a vision of commitment, love and overstanding for best results.
The bureaucracy within the Ministry of Education in Government of Jamaica has failed to make good of the wisemind and wealth of knowledge of early childhood education endowed with Barbara Blake Hannah. The well-lettered advisors, consultants and politicians should rethink their approach to education and employ the competent Barbara Blake Hannah full time. Her teaching methods have provided the bridge between traditional school and home school. Surely more youths of today would remain in schools and make their lives worthwhile, instead of hanging out on corners cherishing thoughts of fantasy.
The instructions given by Q’damawi Haile Selassie to “Organize and Centralize the Movement” is being bounced around by Rastafari house and mansions. If Rastafari is not willing able to establish a functional office of qualified individuals to manage their affairs, both local and international, where is Rastafari heading for in the age of science and technology? This is not a situation of trial and error; it is not one for the volunteer to lead, or a situation to move up through the ranks by friend association.
Within this new faculty of interpretation of Rastafari, Barbara Blake Hannah is:
*
A Jamaican and Rastafari cultural historian
* The founder and executive of Rastafari Think Tank
* The architect of Jamaican Film Festival and Reggae Film Academy
* A founder of the Jamaica Reparation Movement Committee.
*An internationally-known and writer and author of 4 books including: Rastafari –The New Creation, first published in 1982, and the novel Joseph: A Rasta Reggae Fable, a book inspired by the life work of Bob Marley.
*A consultant and motivational speaker at Universities around the world.
* A Rastafari Information Service delegate to the UN World Conference against Racism in 2001.
The Rastafari political enclave must now provide the necessary balance of intelligence and ancestral awareness to take advantage of her skills and experience, and all avoid petty prejudices and long-held grievances. I am sure that the active mind of Barbara Blake Hannah is alert, full of life, and ready to impart knowledge to all those willing to learn.
Blessings
Ras Flako Tafari – Chair; Rastafari Think Tank.
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NOTE FROM BARBARA BLAKE HANNAH: As Co-founder and Editor of the Rastafari Think Tank, I tried to persuade Ras Flako that publishing this tribute may be interpreted as a deliberate act of praise instigated by me. However, he insisted that he be allowed to publish his views on the topic as freely as he does on other topics and I have therefore accepted his position.
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