UNEXPECTED JOY
Jennifer Ko
Lack, malnourishment, disease, need, Africa, Asia… the list goes on. These are words that get associated with poverty time and time again. However they barely begin to scratch the surface of what poverty truly is. Poverty is a complex, multifaceted global issue, so while this article still will not be able to explain it in its entirety, my hope is that it begins to shift your perspective so we can unite in the fight for justice. The most common perception of poverty is that it is solely an economic issue related to a lack of monetary and material possessions. The World Bank defines economic poverty in terms of consumption, or income, finding that almost half of the world lives on less than US$5.50 per day, with about ten percent still living on less than US$1.90 per day. From an economic lens, poverty includes three different levels: extreme, moderate, and relative: 1.Extreme poverty exists in developing countries with consequences of chronic hunger, no access to health care, and lack of the basic necessities to survive. 2.Moderate poverty describes circumstances in which the very basic needs to live are met. 3.Relative poverty occurs when one’s standard of living is lower than the general standard of the geographic region, leaving him/her unable to participate in the ordinary activities of society. 124
FAITH FOLLOWS
Additionally, modern media has used certain images and stories to reinforce a materialized misconception that financial and supply aid is the way to alleviate poverty. These images and perceptions result in a dehumanization of the poor and undermine their dignity through the illusions of desperate dependency. This brings me to charity versus justice… Growing up, my dad took my brother and I to a neighborhood soup kitchen to drop off cans and turkeys during the holidays. We would not actually serve the homeless, we just dropped off the food. At the time, I thought I was doing a lot to help people who were in need. Do not get me wrong, providing for others’ needs is important and impactful. The problem occurs when we believe that these actions are more than charity, and qualify as justice. Social justice has become a trending term. Currently, there are over 700,000 posts hashtagged #socialjustice on Instagram with tweets popping up by the minute. Everywhere I go, I hear conversations about people’s interest in social justice or when the next justice march that is happening on the weekend. But, what is justice? Justice is the act of righting a wrong. It is acknowledging that something or someone is broken and must be restored because every person has the right to life. Justice is about empowering each person to his or her fullest potential rather than taking matters into our own hands to “save” the hurting and oppressed.
