Rasta today has many laying claim to it, while they never grasp its historical context, either first in the 30s, or in its worldwide context, especially in the pre-colonial African genesis where all the symbol first existed. In some ways it is understandable.
It is far easier for people to mask themselves in the symbols of something and usurp its intention to serve their personal interest. This is the legacy of Rastafari as a movement today, where the music attracted many who lacked the social awareness of what made it powerful. The popularity of the music and Marijuana made the movement quite appealing. Poor people could also shed feelings of alienation because they could not afford pop-fashion clothes, so they just claimed to be living Rasta humble. All of this was not necessarily bad. But people did come in with their unresolved social issues.
The problem today with someone first taking on the symbolic trappings of any cultural form is that many can do the same, try to claim the culture, and distort the true meaning of what it is all about. When mixed race and White people do this, they are usually the preferred type as spokespeople in the media, and they get to spread many distortions. (not that Blacks cannot do the same e.g. Powell, Rice) But in saying this, I do like to see people look the part of the culture they represent, but unfortunately quite often unsuitable ones are the ones who love to speak, and then the confusion starts, and continues.
