Redemption: Reflections on Creating a Better World - Hardcover

Marley, Bob; Marley, Cedella

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 168369242X ISBN 13: 9781683692423

Publisher: Quirk Books, 2020

Synopsis

Filled with quotes from Bob Marley s speeches, interviews, and writings, this illustrated collection is sure to resonate with fans of his music and political activism, at a time when we need exemplary heroes. Redemption has many meanings, but there is one definition that embodies the spirit of Bob Marley s beliefs and music: to reform, or to change for the better. Forty years after the release of his iconic Redemption Song, his desire to make the world a better place through mental and spiritual emancipation important first steps to physical emancipation for the larger community remains powerful and vital to this day. Using Marley s own words from interviews and his powerful song lyrics, his eldest daughter, Cedella Marley, creates a powerful narrative about the hard but rewarding path to redemption.

About this title

About the Author

Cedella Marley s life has always been rooted in music and culture. As the oldest child of Bob Marley, she has dedicated herself to keeping her father s message and memory alive. She is a musician as well, performing internationally with the three-time Grammy Award-winning Melody Makers, which consist of her brothers Ziggy and Steve and her sister Sharon. She lives in Miami, Florida, with her husband and three sons. Bob Marley (1945-1981) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician, and remains the most widely known performer of reggae music. He sold 75 million albums worldwide and was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His album, Exodus, was named Album of the 20th Century by TIME magazine. In 1978, he was awarded the Peace Medal of the Third World by the United Nations for his political activism

From the Back Cover

Exploring the many definitions of redemption, from reclamation to forgiveness to the hope of reconciliation, this powerful tribute to Bob Marley s activist beliefs explores the fine line between seeking justice in the short term and remaining focused and optimistic about the future. Redemption offers a safe space to reflect on our current political moment nationally and globally without getting lost in an overwhelming sea of headlines and reclaims an important figure whose powerful messages and legacy as a freedom fighter have been obscured over time. Filled with quotes from his speeches, interviews, and writings, and thoughtfully edited by his daughter Cedella Marley, this collection delivers the real Bob Marley to us at a time when we truly need him.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Foreword

October 2020 marks the 40th anniversary of my father’s timeless “Redemption Song.” I say timeless instead of popular, iconic, or beloved, though those words apply. “Redemption Song” resonates today as much as it did when my father originally wrote it. It is an anthem for times of conflict and despair and calls out the systematic oppression that continues to plague all levels of society. But it also offers a way forward. The answer is in the title itself.
     The word “redemption,” has many definitions. It can mean to save, or be saved, in both a figurative and literal sense. It can also mean to take back, regain, reclaim, or repossess what has been lost. These two ideas go hand in hand. When one has suffered great losses, or inherited generational trauma and loss, one might look at the outer world and think, something has been taken from me. I can only be whole if I reclaim it. This is the instinct of an individual. There is nothing inherently wrong with it, but if every individual only pursues what they believe is rightfully theirs, there can be no laying down of arms. There can be no peace and harmony. My father believed we were entering a new world when he wrote “Redemption Song,” but we have yet to fully create that new world. How can we complete the work my father set out to do?
     There’s another definition of redemption: to reform, or to change for the better. This type of redemption expresses hope and longing for reconciliation, both within and without. It’s a two-part process that starts with a reclamation of the self—understanding who you are and where you come from. But the second part is just as crucial and can only be achieved by becoming part of the world—of a community. Only then can you have a true sense of purpose. Only then can you know where you’re going.
     My father said, “I don’t just love my neighbor and then hate a stranger…I have no place for hate. But I bless those who say they hate me.” He understood the only way to make things better is to become better. To rise above individualism. To embrace others, whether they want to be embraced or not. This is the way to unity. This is way to true redemption for all.
     The quotes within this book are taken from a compilation of interviews in my personal collection, as well as song lyrics that speak to my father’s pursuit of redemption. They can be appreciated individually, but when read together, they create a kind of road map, from identifying concrete problems and solutions to achieving spiritual fulfillment. They offer a glimpse into the way my father thought about and processed the world around him. Hopefully they inspire you on your own journey. 
     My father was, and is, wise beyond his years—some say even beyond time itself, and I’ve lived long enough to understand just how true that is. Happy 75th birthday, Dada.
-Cedella

Edition details

• Publisher: Quirk Books
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 168369242X
• ISBN 13: 9781683692423
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 144