Reggae's Influence On American Culture

Reggae is a form of music that was originated from Jamaica. The messages in Reggae are very positive. Reggae inspires others across the world. It supports and enlightens people to accept diversity. Reggae is a great genre of music and brings people together.
Reggae is known for sending good vibes and keeping things mellow. Nothing hateful ever comes out of Reggae. If such aggression does come out, it’s spreading awareness over politics, rights, and oppression. Spreading joy and happiness is Reggae’s overall mission. Those who listen to or play Reggae are aware that life is too short to be mad and full of hate. When I went to my first Reggae festival in Monterey, everybody was so welcoming, sharing, caring, just overall very positive. People
at the festival were talking to each other like they’ve known each other their whole lives when in reality they were complete strangers.
When I listen to Reggae it makes me just want to spread love. Just the little things such as saying thank you, holding the door, or even picking up trash are just a few examples that Reggae makes people spread positivity. Anytime I’m sad or aggressive I turn to Reggae and it immediately mellows me out. Reggae helps people understand and be more aware that fighting won’t lead to anything but destruction. It teaches people to treat others with more respect and kindness even if we’re strangers to one another. It encourages people to pass on kindness or paying it forward to give more love to the world. It’s a chain reaction of simple human kindness to on another that overtime makes the world a better place. For example, if one person were to give someone an apple, then that person would want to do another act of kindness for another stranger. Reggae is
such a powerful tool that it connects everyone whether they know it or not. For example, I helped my friend who doesn’t listen to Reggae with an assignment; I helped him because Reggae gives me this sense willingness to help others with problems in their life.
Secondly inspiration can come from a lot of places, whether it is from lectures, events or even music.
Reggae has this incredible power to inspire people to want to become a better person, through actions or mentally. Reggae artists’ and bands inspire other creative musical minds. For example, Don Carlos had inspired my favorite music artist, Eric Rachmany from my favorite band, Rebelution. Another example, Bob Marley and his music were also great inspirations to the Reggae community. His music inspired other Reggae artists such as Slightly Stoopid and Tribal Seeds. His music even inspired his sons Damian, Stephen, and Ziggy Marley as well. For no reason at all I was always angry, but one day my brother had this acoustic and harmonious melody coming from his room and I was instantly attracted to its enticing rhythm, and as I came closer I couldn’t believe how much love the singer had and he wanted to share that feeling with his listeners; from then on I was more full of joy and honestly it made me become a more endearing person to my family, friends, and strangers. As time progressed I studied and listened to more and more Reggae artists; I eventually became a positive influence on my father and cousins to be more positive people because of listening to
Reggae.
Lastly, in this new age, diversity is greatly common. I’m very blessed that diversity is universal in my life time. Although diversity is commonly found, it’s Reggae that institutes the acceptance of all different people no matter their, culture, origin, size, or even age. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean we must follow other people’s way of life, it just means to not discriminate them and just be ok with other people’s way of living. For example, in the song “One Love” by Bob Marley, it’s stated, “Let’s get together and feel alright”. The song is about everybody in the world coming together in unity. I went to Berkeley to attend a Slightly Stoopid and SOJA concert and it was full of different people all coming together to listen to the same bands. People at the concert were from different race, culture, and all were meeting and greeting with one another for the first time. Reggae has this powerful vibe and it’s so unique and relatable that people come together sharing the experience with their favorite bands.
In conclusion Reggae sends out positive messages. It inspires others to want to become better people and to achieve their goals. It installs people’s acceptance of diversity among the world.