Guns

Bob Marley was a strong advocate for peace, freedom of oppression, social justice, love of humanity and equality among people. He expressed this through the lyrics of his music and had very heartfelt and touching performances. On December 3, 1976, two days before “Smile Jamaica”, a free concert organized by the Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley in an attempt to ease tension between two warring political groups, Marley, his wife Rita, and manager Don Taylor were wounded in an assassination attempt by unknown gunmen inside Marley’s home. Taylor and Marley’s wife sustained serious injuries, but later made full recoveries. Bob Marley received minor wounds in the chest and arm. His concert was scheduled for December 5 after a presidential candidate's election rally, a presidential candidate who happened to be at odds with the US. Some people believe that the assassination attempt was executed by the US government; for fear that Marley's performance would sway the vote. Many felt the concert was really a support rally for Manley. Nonetheless, the concert proceeded, and an injured Marley performed as scheduled, two days after the attempt. When asked why, Marley responded, “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?” Despite being advised not to perform Marley still decided to perform and was only going to sing one song in front of a crowd of 80,000 Jamaicans as a symbol of peace and unity and a hope to end the violence and bloody struggles between powers. That one song lasted for a ninety minute set. Bob Marley wanted to do the concert solely for the people not for the advocacy of the PNP party. Immediately after the concert Bob Marley left the country to go on a long term self-imposed exile. Once he returned he went on tour in the United States, Europe and Africa. Michael Manley ended up winning the election. Manley and his party were concerned with establishing a framework for society, which would allow Jamaicans to free themselves from the psychology of dependence, the damaging legacy of colonialism, and slavery. Michael Manley's People's Socialist National Party (PNP), represented the have-nots fighting to hold ground against Edward Seaga's conservative Jamaican Labor Party (JLP), representing the haves. In the 1976 election, the PNP campaigned against oppression, imperialism, and capitalism, strong attempts were made to include the urban poor, blue-collar workers, youth, and the unemployed and underemployed in politics.

This is a video of the news broadcast reporting that Bob Marley, his wife and manager had been shot at their home rehearsing for the Smile Jamaica concert in an assassination attempt two days be the concert. It was said that he had had numerous threats before shooting after it was announced that he was performing in the concert.

Bob Marley born Robert Nesta Marley died on May 11, 1981 in Miami, Florida at the age of 36. Marley had first collapsed while jogging in which he had to be rushed to the hospital after just completing two performances at New York’s Madison Square Garden during his U.S. tour in 1980. In 1977 Bob Marley injured his foot while playing soccer with friends. The wound actually got worse instead of healing so he decided to see a doctor. Marley was diagnosed with melanoma and amputation was recommended. It was discovered that the cancerous growth identified in his toe in had been slowly spreading through his vital organs and was now infecting his brain. Marley had refused treatment after the initial diagnosis, since the amputation necessary to remove the growth was in conflict with his Rastafarian beliefs. A final performance was undertaken in Pittsburgh, but the advanced state of his illness forced him to cancel the rest of the tour. He was then transported to Bavarian clinic to undergo an experimental, non-toxic treatment. A brief remission of the cancer was achieved, but in May of 1981 the disease claimed the singer’s life in Miami while he was traveling back to his home in Kingston. As a devout Rastafarian, Bob Marley adhered strongly to the tenets of his religion, which include a belief that amputation is sinful. A Bible verse that Rastafarians hold as very important is Leviticus 21:5-“They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner if their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh.” The first part of this verse is the foundation of the belief in the wearing of dreadlocks, and the last part is the basis for a belief that amputation (as well as other types of body modification) is sinful. Other verses, including those which refer to the body as a holy temple, may also influence this belief. There is an additional Rastafarian tenet which is the belief that death is not a certainty, and that truly holy people will gain immortality in their physical bodies. To acknowledge that death is a possibility is to make certain that it will come soon. It is believed that this is the reason that Bob Marley never wrote a will, either, which resulted in difficulty in dividing his assets after his death. According to some reports, his final words were spoken to his son Ziggy Marley: “Money can’t buy life.”