Poverty, Racism and the Gathering Darkness of Hate

Every year across the world, March 21 is recognized as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In 2022, this date seems to carry extra poignancy. Over the past year we have witnessed the rise of an emboldened white nationalist movement in Canada. The presence of organized groups like the Proud Boys and Canada First along with Confederate Flags and Swastikas at rallies in our nation’s capital and cities across the country should give us cause for concern. Leaders prominent in the recent “Freedom Convoy” are unapologetic purveyors of white supremacy and ideologies of hate.

B’nai Brith Canada reported that 2020 had the highest recorded number of anti-semitic incidents since their reporting began, the fifth consecutive record-breaking year. That same year, Statistics Canada reported that there were 2,669 hate crimes reported to police across Canada, a 40% increase from 2019, and an 89% increase over the past five years. Specifically, hate motivated crimes based on race or ethnicity were up 80% from the previous year, and 139% over the past five years.

Racism and poverty are intimately connected. People who identify as being from a racialized group earn less overall and are significantly more likely to be in poverty. Nationally, the income of racialized persons was 30% below that of non-racialized persons. Meanwhile, the poverty rate among racialized persons was 21%, almost double the rate of 12% among the non-racialized population.

Poverty, however, involves more than just income. Social and spiritual poverty are also important aspects to what is a multi-dimensional concept, and racism is deeply embedded in both. Social poverty arises when we lack the supportive relationships needed to thrive. Racism disrupts the relationships we all need in order to thrive and be resilient, especially in times of crisis and change like now. By disrupting those critical relationships, racism undermines our strength as a community and thereby touches every single one of us.

Spiritual poverty arises from a lack of meaning and purpose in life. Racism thrives when the meaning and purpose of life becomes distorted. False ideologies of racial superiority produce a marred identity that corrupts the spiritual well-being of both the target of racism as well as those that promulgate it. A fundamental tenet of the Judeo-Christian tradition is the affirmation that all are created in the image of God and reflect God’s divine nature. Racism in all its forms violates this fundamental principle and is utterly antithetical to the nature of God and the divine purpose of God in creation.

Following the Holocaust, the nations of the world collectively and resolutely said “Never Again.” Today we must reckon with the uncomfortable reality that never again means now. We urge all people of faith and good conscience to actively oppose all manifestations of racism and hate whenever and wherever they appear, and to immediately disassociate from any space where they are present. Our silent disapproval is no longer enough. The moment requires each of us to speak out with our families, neighbours and friends; in our churches, schools and places of work; and in our online communities. This is our divine calling.

In our struggle against the resurgent heresy of hate, let us also be reminded that moths do not flee the darkness, they fly towards the light. Our divine calling is to be that light and inspire humanity with a vision of a world in which all are truly free. Free from the strictures of poverty; free to be in relationship with all who bear God’s image; and free to pursue our authentic purpose untainted by distorted identities of superiority. The world is desperately waiting for such light.