I agree with most of what you’ve written. That said, I also agree with the poster who questions whether the film would have been better served by a more Afro-centric director. The fact is the black American experience is completely alien to Jamaica. We may(mostly) share the same race but that is where the similarity ends. Bob Marley’s lyrics reflect reality but always with hope. He never doubted his ability, ever. In an interview, Kevin McDonald stated – Jamaicans have the confidence of, and think they are a Super-Power. This is the most accurate description of my island ppl I have ever come across. I don’t think an African-American has the ability to do this yet. Which is perhaps why McDonald was brought in. The physical shackles may be gone but I’m not sure there is a genuine belief of being just as good as. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a black article recently regardless of subject which reflects balance btwn a ruled past & ruling future. PBO & Rice & the Jews are examples. I have a Dream . . .

I agree with posts above, it would be better to have these artists rap/sing more about positive issues, or even deliver inspiration to the youth who look up to them for some strange reason.

I also wanted to make a comment regarding some posts above: it is ethnic people – particularly since the post-world war II era – who have helped shape this country, its infrastructure and healthcare system, whether you realise that or not. Indians, Afro-Caribbeans etc were invited to the UK to improve it, and have done so much for the country and are also proud of that huge contribution.

Being proud to British is not enough. You don’t score any points with that. I say, “so what” to that. You’re no different to someone who’s proud to be Sudanese, Vietnaemes, Brazillian etc etc – it’s just land you’re proud of and a history that you have contributed nothing to, but others have done.

What you should be proud of, instead, is being part of the humanity and wanting only good for it and your fellow man and also contributing to it in some way. That is what we should all work on, my friends.

This video and its awful lyrics do not do that. There is nothing to be proud of here. Sorry, Green.

Peace.

I wholeheartedly agree with your comments and the review of the film. I recently watched it on Netflix, and while I enjoyed some of the interviews, I too felt once again disappointed by the white mainstream’s attempt to portray Bob as this colorblind hippie. It makes me wonder if any of these people have listened to songs beyond legend or ever watched or read many of his interviews. He was very Afrocentric, revolutionary and liberation minded. Yet, folks try to dismiss this as they quote One Love.

Ziggy is not married to a black woman, so I would not expect more from him.

I, too, am sick of the portrayal of Cindy Breakspeare as Bob’s great love. I always saw her as an opportunist who was just one of many. However, though she is white appearing, I thought she was mixed race with a black Jamaican father and a white Canadian mother.

Anyway, like the reviewer, I hope that one day someone with a deeper understanding of Bob’s music and message connects the dots and tells his story the right way. I mean, this is the man who said in a 1979 TV interview that the white man was useless without the black man because the black man is the root. He said the white man was gifted with technology but that the black man was gifted with knowledge, wisdom and understanding. He also said in 1980 that the best satisfaction the white man could give to the black man would be to fight for his rights. He understood the system, racism, and its effect on the black man. He spoke and sang about it like no one else with status in history. Tell that story.