Barbara Blake-Hannah views issues ‘Through Red Gold & Green Spectacles’

Jamaican journalist and author Barbara Blake-Hannah has launched a new book, Through Red Gold & Green Spectacles, another of the many books she has written that address issues of black history, Marcus Garvey and the Rastafari religion.

At 82 years of age, Blake-Hannah promises this will not be her last book, but hopes this will leave a lasting impression on all those interested in Jamaican, black and Rastafari topics.

“My new book will appeal to people interested in Rastafari culture, and this includes people around the world. So far I have received interest from readers in South America, Japan and Africa, as well as the usual places like America and England,” Blake-Hannah shared.

Launched on the last day of British Black History Month, Through Red Gold & Green Spectacles contains essays, columns and humour, as well as research on two historic Rastafari events – the Coral Gardens incident and the 1964 Mission to Africa in which a group of Government appointees and four Rastafari leaders embarked on a tour of African countries seeking to discover if they would welcome Rastafari immigrants.

“ Through Red Gold & Green Spectacles is sold only on Amazon.com. I publish all my books on the Amazon self-publishing facility,” Blake-Hannah said. “It’s hard to get publishers interested in works like mine, so I find I reach my audience better when they can order books from the bookshelf online, rather than trying to find them in bookstores in their cities or countries. When my books become popular online, publishers become interested.”

So far, her books have been republished by MacMillan Caribbean, Penguin UK Books and one translated and issued by a Serbian publisher.

Chapters include views on reparations, early Rastafarians Count Ossie and Douglas Mack, reggae films and the early legalise ganja campaign. Blake-Hannah makes a special plea for the appointment of a new Jamaican national hero, not Bob Marley, but Marley’s Rastafari culture itself for the iconic global influence and reputation it has given Jamaica.

Through Red Gold & Green Spectacles joins Blake-Hannah’s previously published books Rastafari – the New Creation, the first book on Rastafari written by a member of the faith; two novels, Joseph – a Rasta Reggae Fable, inspired by the life of Bob Marley; and The Moon Has its Secrets inspired by the life of Maroon heroine Nanny. She has also written about her experiences homeschooling her son in Home The First School – How To Grow a Genius Son.

Blake-Hannah, however is best known for Growing Out – Black Hair & Black Pride in the Swinging Sixties, in which she tells of the experience that made her famous when she became Britain’s first black TV journalist in 1968 on the THAMES TV programme, Today, a job that was terminated after nine months by racist callers and letters to the station.

Her experience led to the opening of doors for black British journalists, and draws a vivid picture of life as a black Caribbean immigrant to Britain. She followed that book with Growing Up – Dawta of JAH, telling the story of her life after she returned to Jamaica in 1972 and became a Rastafari and mother.