Review of Rita Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” by Julia & Robert Roskind, co-authors of “Rasta Hear” and “The Gathering of the Healers“
Honor and Respect is due Rita for honestly expressing in No Woman No Cry the experience she has as Bob Marley’s wife. How she raises their children in the fullness of One Love mother earth style regardless of all the controversy. Give thanks to Bob Marley and Rita and all your children for teaching and learning One Love: Your Message is received and given with guidance and blessings.
Julia Roskind
Review of Rita Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” by Robert Roskind, co-author of “Rasta Hear” and “The Gathering of the Healers”
Having just completed Rita Marley’s No Woman No Cry, I thought I would add my voice to the escalating discussion. As an author of books on Bob Marley, reggae and Jamaica (Rasta Heart and A Gathering of the Healers) I understand how books relating to these issues often bring up strong emotions in the readers. These subjects are very close to many people’s hearts.
I thought the book was not only very brave and powerful but that it went a long way in completing the true picture of both Bob and Rita. What emerges clearly from the pages is two young people, caring deeply about each other and doing there best to live an honorable and decent life–first in spite of great poverty and chaos and then in spite of great fame and even greater chaos.
Even though Bob’s relationships with other women are clearly presented (something every Marley fan already knows about) his generosity and devotion to Rita, their children and his children from other women is also clear. The book reveals a man willing to take responsibility, totally financially and partially emotionally and physically, for his “family.” Through it all he tried to do the “right thing” by them. He reached to live One Love, not just sing about it.
What also emerges is Rita’s ability to truly live Bob’s message of One Love by not just putting the needs of her own children first but by also raising several of Bob’s other children–an act of true love and compassion, both common themes in Bob’s songs. The success, talent and health of all the Marley children is a testament to their parents success in parenting against great odds.
Bob was not perfect. He was human like the rest of us. Young men all over the world look to him as a role model. Many believe he just “planted his seed” and moved on. They use that to justify there own lack of taking responsibility for their children. Raising a child alone, especially in a country like Jamaica, can often trap the single mother in a cycle of poverty–in essence exploiting her just as “Babylon exploits the downpressed,” again common themes in Bob’s lyrics.
This book needed to be written. It completes the picture of Bob Marley–the man, the prophet, the legend. He was a tribal drummer calling Jah’s children back Home–to One Love. In African tradition the drummer is
considered royalty but, unlike priests and priestesses, perfection was not expected of the drummer. And like African tribal drummers, his drum, as well as his unique drumming style, was buried with his body. Much respect is due to all the family.
Give thanks, Robert Roskind