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::Enlightenment:: Red, Gold, and Green

I've gotten a lot of request to talk about this next group of colors, so it is only right. Red, Yellow, and Green, or also sometimes referred to as Red, Gold, and Green, or, Ites, Gold, and Green. These are the original colors of the Ethiopian Flag. It was then later Co-opted by the Rastafarian Movement as their main colors. Red is said to signify the blood of martyrs, green the vegetation and beauty of Africa, and gold the wealth of Africa.

What is the Rastafarian Movement you say? Well it is more then having Dreds and smoking weed.

The Rastafarian movement started way before its official founding date of 1930 with Marcus Garvey and his philosophies. Marcus Garvey was the founder of the "Back to Africa movement. He is also considered a Prophet to Rastafarians. He is quoted as saying "Look to Africa for the crowning of a Black King, he shall be the Redeemer." A few years later, Ras Tafari, better know as Halie Selassie who was the former and Final Emperor of Ethiopia was crowned. He is concidered an incarnation of God, but in this faith God is called JAH. The name Rastifarian is derived from Halie Selassie's previous name Ras Tafari. This is a Monotheistic religion which means they only believe in one god. In the general religion, there are no temples, the persons body is considered to be a temple. True Rastafarians are also vegetarian. As with Marcus Garvey's philosophies, they strongly believe in going back to Africa and restoring it to the greatness it once had. A land of Kings, Queens, and Wealth.

A more in Depth description of the Rastafarian Movement is HERE...as well as HERE

Also More on Marcus Garvey is on a Previous Post...HERE




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Bed Stuy Fly Market

The Bed Stuy Fly Market was a great experience for us. Not only did we get to meet a variety of different vendors, the Bread Stuy bread house who helps sponsor the event was playing the best in House music to keep things LIVE. Positive vibes all day. The Bed Stuy Fly Market is hosted by Gather Brooklyn, Check out their site HERE to keep up with more events that they have. Also, Stay tuned to the blog for more Flea Market Announcements!

Bed Stuy Fly Market

Contemporary_negro will be at the Brooklyn Flea Market Sunday September 26, 2010, from 10am - 5pm selling our wooden Medallions. If you are free come through and check them out. Check out our Full Selection HERE! Directions to the Bed Stuy Fly Market are HERE!

:: Enlightenment :: What does Red, Black, and Green mean?

Many have asked, "What do the Red, Black, and Green colors represent?" I will explain the colors and why we wear them. The colors are adopted from the UNIA or Black Nationalist Flag. The Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) is a black nationalist fraternal organization founded by Marcus Garvey. The UNIA is a social, friendly, humanitarian, charitable, educational, institutional, constructive and expansive society, and is founded by people desiring to do the utmost to work for the general uplift of the people of African ancestry of the world. Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in August 1914 as a means of uniting all of Africa and its diasporas (People who share African ancestry, but not from the homeland) into "one grand racial hierarchy. The UNIA constitution defines red, black, and green as the Pan-African colors: "red representing the noble blood that unites all people of African ancestry, the color black for the people, green for the rich land of Africa. The UNIA flag was designated the official colors of the African Race by the UNIA at its convention in Madison Square Garden on August 13, 1920 in New York City. Alternatively, it was explained by a journalist that Marcus Garvey proposed the colors for the following reasons: "Garvey said red because of sympathy for Native Americans, the Green is sympathy for the Irish in their fight for freedom, and the Black for the Negro.

For those who were not aware this is why these colors are the most associated with Black people till this day. Black history isn't instilled in the school system or in modern households for that matter as it once was, so without proper knowledge, the reasons behind things get lost. People will emulate things but not TRULY know why. Knowledge is power so lets get the power back! ONE LOVE!

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AFRICA AMERICA MEDALLION!!!

New Medallion Fresh Off the Press! Give new meaning to the term "African American". Wear it as a pin or necklace! Cop this and all our other Medallions HERE!!! REMEBER: REPPING OUR ROOTS SHOULD NEVER BE OUT OF STYLE!!!