I’ll Always Be Your Brother Glossary

EZCC: The Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church, the church of the living man, the gatherer of the people, is a distinct branch of the Rastafari faith, which originated in Jamaica. It was founded in the 1950s but remained inactive until its resurrection in the early 1970s.

Rastafari: A faith and social movement that emerged in 1930s Jamaica, is characterized by a monotheistic belief in Jah who is thought to partially reside within each individual.

Jah: Another name for God used in Rastafarian doctrine. A living spirit inside everyone.

Babylon: In Rastafari, "Babylon" is a derogatory or dismissive expression that refers to societal elements perceived as corrupt or oppressive, with a particular focus on law enforcement agencies.

Marcus Garvey: A Jamaican political activist and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League. He played a significant role in advocating for pan-Africanism and influenced many important black public figures. Garvey's teachings and philosophies have had a significant impact on the Rastafari movement, inspiring many Rastafarians to embrace the concept of African nationalism and self-reliance.

Zion: In Rastafarianism, "Zion" symbolizes a spiritually idyllic place where the ideal society embodies unity, peace and freedom.

Haile Selassie: Imperial standard of Haile Selassie I Haile Selassie I was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia for Empress Zewditu from 1916. Among some members of the Rastafari movement, Haile Selassie is referred to as the returned messiah of the Bible, God incarnate. This distinction notwithstanding, he was a Christian and adhered to the tenets and liturgy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. (wikipedia)

Coptic: The definition of the term "Coptic" within the context of EZCC is not entirely clear, as it is a multi-interpreted term that might have been used to describe an ancient African faith. It is often associated with something spiritual, similar to the various interpretations of Rastafari. However, it is worth noting that "Coptic" originally refers to the indigenous Christians of North Africa, known as "Copts." See Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Ganja: Another name for marijuana which is a Rastafari sacrament.

Dreadlocks: From the perspective of Rastafari, dreadlocks are not merely a fashionable hairstyle, but rather natural or intentionally formed matted strands of hair that hold deep spiritual significance, reflecting a strong connection to their faith and serving as a powerful symbol of identity and cultural expression. EZCC members always combed their hair.

Ras: A term used to describe a Rastafarian man who is seen as a spiritual leader and teacher within the community.

Just Us: As explained in Episode 4, the phonetic pronunciation of Jesus as "just us" conveys the idea that the essence of Christ resides within each of us. It symbolizes a shared mindset that integrates the perspectives of multiple individuals while upholding a unified spirit. This understanding can be interpreted as an embodiment of “justice”.

Jamaican Patois/Patwah: Locally rendered Patwah and called Jamaican Creole by linguists) is an English-based creole language with West African influences, spoken primarily in Jamaica and among the Jamaican diaspora. A majority of the non-English words in Patois come from the West African Akan language.(wikipedia) - http://www.jamaicantranslator.com/

Brother Louv: Brother Louv Williams, the original founder of EZCC, was beaten to death by police in the 1950s. Thomas Reilly adopted the name Brother Louv during a CBS 60 Minutes interview and became the spokesman for the church in the United States. Contrary to media depictions, Thomas Reilly was neither the leader nor the founder of the church.

Brother Ivy: He was taught by Brother Louv (Williams) and was part of the original church in the 50s. As mentioned in Episode 2, he helped resurrect the church with the people in the Rasta camp.

Brother Niah: Niah Keith Gordon. He was the spiritual leader of the church, at the center of everything in the story and the church's actions in the 70s.

Brother Wally: Walter Wells, was a blind older man who served as the spiritual elder at Coptic Heights. In charge of guiding spiritual matters and leading prayers, he played a highly respected and significant role in the church’s history.