Dreadlocks is a term used to describe hair that has been allowed to matte and form into cylindrical, rope-like extensions.  What's curious about the term "dreadlocks" is that it has not traditionally been used to descript the hair style to which it is attributed.  It wasn't until the mid-1900’s that dreadlocks acquired its popular and often controversial name.  

The “Young Black Faith" of the 1930s was one of the earliest sects of Rastafari; a religious movement in Jamaica founded by Leonard Percival Howell.  Howell’s teachings attracted poor, marginalized Blacks and inspired them to work against Jamaica’s socio-economic establishments and colonial authorities.  Howell and Rastafarians believe Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I to be a direct descendent of the Biblical lines of Kings David and Solomon.  Haile Selassie I in turn garnered such titles as “King of Kings,” “Lord of Lords,” and most notably, “Conquering Lion of Judah.”

Symbolically, the lion represents a powerful being or ruler and the dominant tribe of the Hebrews known as Judah.  Thus, drea
dlocks which mimic a lion’s mane are believed to serve a symbol and realistic representation of power.  Like Samson and the Nazarites of the Old Testament, Rastafarians believe that shearing ones locks leads to weakness whereas “cultivating” or growing them without restriction generates power and results in a deeper, often mystical connection with God.  Locks are therefore an extension of faith and in some cases, growing and maintaining them is regarded as a direct mandate from God.  

Despite the spiritual basis for wearing locked hair, Jamaican colonial authorities sought to suppress the growing influence of Howell and Rastafarianism.  It is during this time that we first see the term “dreadlocks” which denoted the style’s dreadful nature as viewed by colonial authorities.  In addition to increased negative terminology, in 1934 authorities arrested and imprisoned Howell for two years on charges of sedition:  Speech and organization that may lead to insurrection against the established order.  

Although jailing Howell made him physically inaccessible, it also resulted in his becoming martyr and in turn strengthened the Jamaican Rastafarian movement.  Believers viewed his imprisonment as a direct assault on the proliferation of Black Civil Rights in Jamaica and instead of conforming to colonial mandates, dreadlocks increasingly became a symbolic representation of defiance and demands for equality.

Today, many are at odds as to whether to embrace or negate the term “dreadlocks.”  As the number of dreadlocks wearers has increased, so has the number of alternative, positive terminology to descript the hair style.  Although a change in name may help inspire better understanding and appreciation of dreadlocks, a study of the style’s true history may be the best means to garner increased global acceptability. 


Photo by Jonathan Stephens, http://www.jrsfilm.com