Haile Selassie

Haile Selassie was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. Due to Ethiopia’s status as the only African nation to have never been colonized. He was believed to be a reincarnation of God within the Rastafari religion and political movement.

Safiya Sinclair

Safiya is the autobiographical protagonist and eldest daughter. She was born in Jamaica and moved around the island several times when she was younger when her father changed his mind about the town he had chosen. Safiya was a highly intelligent young girl who enjoyed learning and always struggled against the strict rules of the Rastafari community that her father tried to impose on her. She did not understand why he was not encouraging her to continue her education and she often went against his beliefs to pursue knowledge and try to fit in with the other girls and have a normal upbringing.

After being...