Sam Brown (Rastafari)

Ras Sam Brown (16 December 1925-August 1998) was a Jamaican Rastafari elder well known in Kingston for his politics after he participated in the elections of 1961 with his Suffering People's party. He received fewer than 100 votes, yet by being the first rasta to ever stand for politics his influence has been greater than this statistic suggests, especially as at the time there was generalised feeling in the Rastafarian movement that Rastas do not vote. He had a 21 point plan. Some of his ideas were:
*Members of the Rastafari movement are an inseparable part of the black Jamaican people.
* As such we cannot and do not proclaim any higher aims than the legitimate aims and aspiration of the black people of Jamaica.
*The Rastafarian Movement stands for freedom to its fullest sense and for the recovery of dignity, self-respect and sovereignty of the black people of Jamaica.
*The Rastafarian movement, for the furtherance of these ends, must have the backing and support to lead a political party of its own.
*The Rastafarian movement has the backing of no political party. We are the subject of persecution and discrimination.
*The Rastafarian movement therefore has decided to actively join the political struggle and create a political movement with the aim of taking power and implement measures for the upliftment of the poor and the oppressed.
*All men, therefore, are free, irrespective of colour to join this political crusade. The only condition is that he must abandon evil.

In 1996 he became a roots reggae singer and poet with an album called "History, Past and Present". Brown died while attending an international trade fair in Barbados

External links

* [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/html/20010820t210000-0500_12939_obs_rastafari_and_politics.asp Article in Jamaican observer]
* [http://groups.msn.com/RASCOMTheRastafarianCommunity/rassambrowntreatiseontherastafarianmovement.msnw 1966 article]