Rastafarianism arose in the slums of Jamaica during the period between the 1920s and 1930s. It has many inspirations of Christianity combined in its culture. Rastafarianism is a very interesting religion; his followers known as Rastafarians as well as Rastas or Rastafaris, derive from Jamaica to form a unique clan of Jamaican-English. For most Rastafarians what they believe in is not a religion, but simply a way of life. Rastafarians share their emotions about oppression, poverty and discrimination of blacks along with their religion. The next paragraphs will explain the history of the Rastas, the main beliefs, religious practices and subdivisions of religions. In the early years of this religion a man named Marcus Garvey, born in Jamaica in 1887, began teaching other Jamaicans to stand up for their race and culture. He formed the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914. Marcus Garvey preached throughout Jamaica. He believed that Jamaicans were truly Israelites and were exiled to Jamaica as punishment. Garvey wrote a very powerful work called “The Coronation of the King and Queen of Africa.” Many Rastafarians said that Garvey told them that they must go to Africa and there they will find the king they are looking for to save them. Soon after, on November 2, 1930, they crowned Ras Tafari Makonnen as their Emperor of Ethiopia. This emperor took the name Haile Selassie, which by definition means “Power of the Trinity”. For many he was a form of Jesus Christ. On the other hand Marcus Garvey disliked Emperor Selassie immensely, he thought he was an ill-equipped leader. Haile Selassie spread the thought that God created the black man before he created the white man. “Rastaf… in the center of the card… birthday and a certain color. Rastafarianism began on the principles of black equality and freedom. Over the years it has become a huge religion practiced by many. It has spread not only to Jamaica, but also to the Caribbean, England, the United States and Canada. Today there are more than one million people who practice the religion of Rastafarianism. If someone wanted a calm, peaceful and meaningful life without hatred, they should defiantly consider practicing the religion of Rastafarianism. Overall this religion brings the unity of all ethnicities and the harmony and oneness of its people with the environment. Works Cited Beyer, Catherine. "Rastafari." . Np, 2012. Web. 6 April 2012. .. "Rastafari". . Np, 2004. Web. 6 April 2012. .. "Rastafarian History". . BBC Religion, 21 October 2009. Web. 6 April 2012. .