Reflections on Discussions with Youth and Churchgoers in Toronto
Communists must oppose alienation and speak directly with the masses.
This week, I have been spending my time volunteering at a nearby summer camp for children and youth living in community/social housing alongside some members of my local church. The organization’s stated goal is to encourage and empower these individuals, ensuring their safety and happiness throughout the duration of the camp.
As for me, I entered with some additional goals in mind: to better understand the material conditions of these children and youth and to more closely investigate the individual political stances of the churchgoers alongside me.
Correctly disseminate Marxism-Leninism, raise class consciousness
For the former, this is an ongoing process, as my volunteer shifts continue until the end of the week. Still, I have already noted some common thoughts among the youth I spoke to. Between activities, some of the youth decided to ask me some questions to try and get to know me better. Many questions were typical, for instance, asking my ethnic origin, favourite colour, favourite animal, etc.
Yet, one stood out. The topic of wealth came up, and they asked me whether I wanted to become rich. I answered that I largely do not care about money, to which they replied that everyone does. Among the youth present for this “interrogation,” as I jokingly called it, many agreed.
Of course, this may come as unsurprising—it is unrealistic in most regards to expect young people living in (and thus indoctrinated by) the capitalist West to understand the folly of “becoming rich.” People do not simply “become rich,” after all—there is always worker and resource exploitation involved at some level.
This is why a good political education and correct dissemination of Marxist-Leninist thought are crucial. Western capitalist societies largely lack class consciousness, which is why they call Elon Musk “brilliant” and have parasocial relationships with so-called “icons” such as Taylor Swift and K-pop idols while simultaneously turning a blind eye to their homeless and drug addicts.
Build community across political lines
My second goal going into this camp was to better understand the individuals who make up my local church congregation. It should not come as a shock that many of the members lean center-right to right-wing. Even as the church itself consists primarily of Afrikans and Asians, the pastor and many invited speakers are white.1
The Jamaican church sister who carpooled me to and from the site, who I will refer to as Dani, surprised me with her views.2
On the topics of abortion, euthanasia, etc., Dani holds stances that are, in essence, identical to my own—that it should be the affected individual’s decision regardless of personal opposition for faith-based reasons. Within a (supposedly) liberal-democratic system, one (theoretically) cannot use a religious text as a basis to pass laws.
For abortion specifically, she noted that while she could personally “never do that,” she does not oppose would-be mothers who choose to abort. When I raised the issue of so-called “Christians” who raise anti-abortion signs outside of clinics and shame women, she was shocked and strongly opposed the idea.
Capitalist propaganda is powerful, but Communism remains stronger
What, perhaps, surprised me the most was her mostly-positive view of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). As we discussed the speed of infrastructure development and care for the masses, she expressed her awe at China’s ability to complete construction projects in mere days. (In Canada, similar projects take months at minimum, often lasting years or being cancelled entirely.)
When I mentioned the difference in governance type, she did not flinch at the use of the terms “socialist” and “Communist.” In fact, she agreed that it is because of China’s socialist governance—working for the People rather than for Capital—that projects can be completed at such a fast pace.
On the topic of development, we discussed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the way China assists Afrikan nations in their decolonization and development without overreach—as the Western powers did when they first cut up the continent.
The only areas where Dani expressed slight discomfort on this topic are the issues of worker exploitation and the fact that China, in her words, “does not freely share their knowledge” in Afrika’s development.
On worker exploitation, I explained China’s political-economic system; capitalist companies are allowed to exist but are heavily restricted, and Communist Party of China (CPC) members ensure these companies continue to serve the interests of the Chinese nation.
We also discussed allegations of “human rights abuses,” to which I explained the history of the Dalai Lama in China’s Xizang (Tibet) and the so-called East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
For the latter point, I reiterated that China does not seek to impose its will on any nation; China provides manpower and financial means but wholly supports self-governance and self-determination rather than enforcing certain decisions over others.
As well, I noted China’s history—we were ourselves once semi-feudal and semi-colonial, humiliated at the hands of the Japanese and the West. I brought up Japan’s Unit 731, and she was appalled at the brutality of the Japanese during the World Anti-Fascist War and War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. She noted that she had never heard of the unit.
Today, China stands as a strong anti-imperialist nation, a counterweight to the imperialist thuggery of America and the so-called “collective West.” Chairman Xi Jinping asserted in his speech marking the centenary of the CPC in 2021, “We have never bullied, oppressed, or subjugated the people of any other country, and we never will.”
Clearly, there is much work to be done in regard to political education and the raising of class consciousness among the masses. It is crucial that all good and loyal Communists reach out to local communities and transform their theory into correct praxis.
I use the spelling “Afrikan,” the way it is spelled in many languages from the continent, rather than “African.” This is in support of the pan-Afrikan movement and a rejection of so-called “proper” (white) English.
Name changed for privacy reasons.
christianity is a genocidal religion of settlers when practiced on this land. I didn’t realize you were a participate in this evil and my colonization.