Theology of Race

If God is Light, as the good book says,
And Satan the Prince of Darkness be,
Then is the seed of racism
Buried deeper than we see?

And in Eastern parts sun-worshippers
Play to a similar theme;
The Brahmin is tejaswi (radiant),
The others need a lot of cream.

In other places they speak of “Noorâ€
As euphemism for God;
Yet again the darker ones
Seem candidates for the rod.

How else may we interpret
These existent texts?
I flounder in ignorance,
I am befuddled, I am vexed.

Might the hour be ripe for revelation
As confusion wrecks our days?
Black Holes, they say, in the firmament,
Suck in the brightest rays.

If God created black and white
With equal love and passion,
As He did the lamb and lion,
Then why the discrimination?

- Badri Raina, June 29, 2020