Reggae, Rastafari, and the Rhetoric of Social Control

Stephen King's excellent examination and analysis of Rastafarian protest makes an important contribution to the study of social movements, perceptively illuminating the manner in which music operated rhetorically to combat the neocolonial mechanisms of social control. This is a fascinating book that cuts across several disciplines. Those interested in rhetoric, cultural studies, and ethnomusicology, for example, will learn much by reading it.--James R. Andrews, professor emeritus, Indiana University Stephen King's work deftly brings together a variety of source material including scholarly articles, short-lived and obscure Black Power and Rasta magazines, articles in mainstream newspapers and the lyrics of a wealth of reggae songs. The net result is a carefully reasoned, wonderfully illustrated, and engaging analysis of the success and failures in the ongoing dialectic between middle-class Jamaicans and the Rastafarians. Highly Recommended.--Rob Bowman, author of Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records Reggae, Rastafari, and the Rhetoric of Social Control is an extremely well-written, well-researched study of a significant and unique social movement that used music as a recruitment tool and as a means of solidifying membership. This book provides great insights into social movements, particularly those who use music as their primary tool of persuasion, and how establishments can effectively challenge them.--Richard J. Jensen, coeditor of The Words of César Chávez