Call Me Woke

Abstract art about inclusion and diversity. “Call Me Woke”

Why Woke?

I see the word woke a lot lately. What it means depends on who's saying it. Where I find it used the most, however, is in responses to social media posts. What is clear, at least to me, is that at least half of this country thinks being woke is a negative. Most frequently the response that the poster is woke really doesn't leave much room for discussion. The why is the important piece. Perhaps they don’t know. Perhaps they don’t have sufficient data to defend their opinion, thus relying on the word woke to express their overall disdain.

I find it amusing that right wing conservatives choose to use the word woke as a condemnation of liberals. Of all the words they could have chosen for this purpose they chose one that originated in Black culture, appearing in the music of Lead Belly  in the 1930s, and used by the Black Panther movement of the 60s and 70s. The term later became popular in the Black Lives Matter movement and in all cases meant to be aware “woke” of social injustice and racism.

White Progressive Liberals took up the term, diluting it to cover a broader range of issues from racism to misogyny, and from LGBTQ bigotry to social equality. Right Wing Republicans added the sneer and sarcasm, to show their disdain for any who lay claim to liberal views. By ending DEI, Republicans have made it clear that they have no interest in being aware of or ending these issues for Black people or any people of color. So, why choose a word so closely related to Black culture?

It gives me a chuckle when I'm called woke. Usually that's all the comment contains. Example: “That's just some woke BS.“ I seldom see the word woke, when used as an insult, followed by intelligent discourse or any discourse at all. Using the word woke in this way is a cop out. The commenter merely expresses anger rather than engaging in discourse. This is not communication. These people usually end up on my blocked list.

Here's my concern with bandying about the word woke indiscriminately. To me, woke means believing racial injustice still exists, white people had a leading role in its beginning and an ongoing role in its perpetuation, and that we need to identify and end it. It means all people in this country are entitled to due process under the law. Further, people have the right to be who they are, worship who they want, love who they want, and to hold dominion over their own bodies. In other words,  live and let live.

Is the opposite of woke, asleep?

Being asleep then must mean whitewashing our past to pretend we are innocent. Ignoring the needs of others, so long as we meet our own needs. It means deciding how others should live their lives and exercising control over their bodies. It means spreading hate and bigotry. If you are not woke, then are you asleep? Do you mean to be asleep? Is this what you want for your life, for the lives of your children?

I’d rather be woke. So, go ahead. Call me woke. I am not offended.