Rootz Radix

by Robbie Rootz (Taken from http://www.rootzreggaeandkulcha.com)

In the last Peter Tosh Special -Volume 2#5 1999, I had the chance to submit an article entitled Reggae Role Model. How many of us get the chance to meet our Role Models and mentors. To see first hand what it took to lead a revolution. I got that chance.

1978: The first time I saw him in the flesh. He was badly bruised and in need of medical attention. It seemed the police had once again tried to kill him for a spliff burning incident outside the Aquarius record shop in the heart of Half Way Tree in Kingston. Story had it that Peter had exited the record store with a burning spliff and ran into some undercover cops. They wanted to arrest him for smoking the illegal weed in public, but Peter stood his ground trying to establish the fact that this was not a criminal act. With a crowd gathering around, Peter un-rolled the spliff and the evidence blew away in the wind and this caused the police to detain him. In their efforts, it seemed one officer struck the other officer and this further enraged the the officers who were by now being ridiculed by the growing eyewitnesses. With cat like moves Peter, was able to get out of the reach of the policeman's swinging rifle butt and the intended blows landed on the police themselves. Because the crowd would not allow murder on the streets, the police had to arrest him on what was probably a mis-demeanor. He was escorted to the Half Way Tree police station, where he was beaten relentlessly in an attempt to kill him Instead of going to the hospital on his release, Peter headed for the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, the only TV station at the time and tried to make the evening news to tell his tale of the ordeal.

I was a rookie cameraman at the time working the Evening News shift and the ordeal would make the lead story of the day at JBC. Badly bruised and damaged, he still found humour in re-telling the tale of the police and their mis-handling of the situation. This scene would be repeated time and time again as Peter Tosh took his stance in an effort to Legalize the Holy Herb. The incident would leave me with the full understanding of what it took to be a true Radical -a Rootz Radix. What it took to never bow to the authorities and to stand and represent the truth even if it meant your life was at stake. How many of us would ever have smoked in public again after such a beating. Yet the Rootz, the Radix would not be swayed from his mission. His very next public appearance had him flaunting yet another burning spliff, belching out his Herb Anthem, "Legalize It", so he could 'advertise it' as he sang to the masses. And they were all in agreement, everyone within earshot, even the non-smokers.

1979: Roughly a year later I was in the company of veteran photojournalist Gladstone Douglas, whom I accompanied to the Lee Scratch Perry Studios off the Washington Boulevard. It was here that my most memorable Peter Tosh experience was to take place. We were sitting in the control room listening to some unfinshed tracks when the Bush Doctor arrived fresh from his native parish Westmoreland with a bounty of fresh collie. A sweet pugnant aroma was to soon fill the air as the stems and seeds were extracted in preparation for a chalice burning session. This cleaning duty was left to me, the youngest of the group doing 'go-fer' duties. Uncensored rhythm tracks played in the background as a debate began about the method of dealing with the chalice. The options being with or without a mixture of tobacco. "Ital" was Peter Tosh's preference and he was about to be out-voted when I was approached to enter my vote. The weed in my hand was so fresh and sweet to just inhale, with that gummy texture on my finger tips, that I just had to go along with the Bush Doctor and vote "Ital", so as not to interfere with this weed's potency. The choice was perfect and a most memorable smoke session ensued. The billowing smoke escaped his nostrils and I could only be in awe of the amount of smoke the human body could inhale, as I awaited my turn at the chalice to take me up and beyond. I sat watching my mentor's skill at the art of smoking weed as the conversation ranged from music to Africa and Garvey and Socialism and other "isms", from road tours to revolutions. I sat and soaked it all in. I was just turning 19 then.

1983: The artist was at work in Atlanta at the Agora Ball Room. He had two shows that night and I only intended to stay through one, as the drive to Augusta, Georgia, where I lived, was some 2 hours east on 1-20. However after the first show, I was captured by the raw studio sound Peter had in this band called Word Sound & Power. 'Fat Keith' Sterling on keyboards along with George Fullwood on bass, backed by my ultimate Reggae drummer Santa Davis, with the famous Tamlins trio working back-up for the Wailer. Trust me, when I say it just does not get any better than this. The 8:00 pm show was packed and the people had a lot of fun, as the performance was above and beyond what anyone expected. I stayed on to see the late show and was rewarded for my patience. That show was even better and the crowd wilder and I enjoyed the songs all over again. The artist was in his element, spliff in hand belching out themes of revolt, crying for justice, crucifying vampires and showing his abilities on the guitar and the kette drums. It was an awe inspiring spectacle to behold. Ethiopian cross on his chest and staff in hand the Wailer wailed that night and one was glad to be alive.

2000: We need a site for my hero, my mentor. His mauseleum in Belmont would be my chosen area. The sloping hills overlook the blue vibrant Caribbean sea and the area is rustic and tranquil. Here we should be able to smoke a freedom spliff in his honor. Free from police or pesticides or people with un-natural hang-ups. Free to smoke good grade cannibas sativa and just meditate in solice and nature and give thanks to the Rootz Radix who championed the cause for true Freedom and Justice. Do we have to wait for another "400 years"?