The term woke has deep roots, and it didn’t just pop out of thin air in recent years. Originally, woke came from Black American Vernacular English, where it simply meant being awake or alert. But in the 1930s, the term started carrying a the deeper, more broad meaning of staying vigilant to social and political injustices.
One of the earliest recorded uses of woke in this context comes from a 1938 song by Huddie Ledbetter (better known as Lead Belly), titled Scottsboro Boys. In the song, he urged Black Americans to “stay woke” to the ongoing racial injustices of the time, specifically referencing the infamous Scottsboro case, where nine Black teenagers were falsely accused of assault.
Fast forward to the 1960s, and the Civil Rights Movement embraced the term as a call to stay conscious of racial inequality. The idea of being woke was a form of empowerment, a reminder to stay sharp and aware in the fight for justice.
Over the decades, woke occasionally popped up in cultural references. It made a more mainstream comeback in the 2010s, fueled by the rise of social media and movements like Black Lives Matter. At this point, woke expanded to include awareness of a wide range of social issues, from gender inequality to climate change.
The meaning of woke has continued to evolve and used in ways not always positively. By the mid 2010s, it started to become a buzzword, often used to signal progressive values. Eventually, it got co-opted, ridiculed, and made into a political hot potato. For some, being woke means caring about equity and fairness. For others, it’s become shorthand for performative or excessive political correctness.
Woke today carries a whole lot of historical baggage. It’s a word in constant flux, reflecting shifting cultural tides while still rooted in its original call for awareness and action.
Virtue Signaling
The term woke has been increasingly associated with progressive virtue signaling in recent years, especially as social justice topics have become central to public discourse and as a political tool. But what does that actually mean? Virtue signaling refers to the act of expressing opinions or taking actions primarily to show off one’s moral superiority rather than to drive genuine change. When tied to woke, it often describes how people or organizations adopt social justice language or gestures to appear progressive, without necessarily backing it up with meaningful action.
For example, you might see a company post on social media about being woke by supporting a trending social cause by changing their logo to include pride colors during Pride Month while doing little or nothing to address systemic issues, such as a lack of diversity in their leadership. It can feel performative rather than genuinely embodying the values they claim to support.
On an individual level, some people use woke rhetoric to build their personal brand, aligning themselves with progressive movements to gain social influence and for personal gain. This could look like publicly calling out others for their lack of awareness while ignoring their own blind spots or failing to take substantial action behind the scenes.
Of course, this doesn’t mean everyone using woke language is being disingenuous. Many genuinely care about the causes they speak up for. But the rise of woke as a buzzword in marketing and personal branding has certainly muddied the waters, sparking debates about authenticity and the balance between awareness and action.
Colonialist Undertones
The intersection of woke with colonialist and white savior attitudes is a complex and often controversial topic. It highlights how well-meaning efforts to address inequality or oppression can unintentionally perpetuate some of the very power dynamics they aim to dismantle.
White Savior Complex
The white savior complex refers to a mindset where individuals, often from privileged backgrounds, position themselves as the "heroes" who will rescue marginalized groups. This often involves stepping into spaces without understanding the lived experiences of those they claim to help. This can manifest as performative allyship or taking up disproportionate space in conversations about social justice.
For example, someone might amplify their own voice rather than centering the voices of the people directly affected by systemic issues. It’s not uncommon to see individuals or organizations, under the banner of being woke, inadvertently framing themselves as the solution while ignoring or overshadowing grassroots efforts led by the communities themselves.
Colonialism in Activism
Colonialism isn’t just about occupying land but about imposing values, beliefs, and systems of power. When activism or social justice efforts are framed in a way that assumes one group knows best how to "fix" another group’s issues, it risks echoing the same paternalistic attitudes that underpinned colonialism.
An example might be international aid campaigns where Western influencers or organizations advocate for causes in developing countries but fail to include local leaders or listen to the specific needs of those communities. This approach can strip agency from the people it aims to help, reinforcing the idea that "outsiders" hold the solutions.
Woke Criticism
Critics often seize on these dynamics to discredit woke activism altogether, accusing it of being shallow or hypocritical. They point to cherry picked examples where woke efforts seem more focused on optics than substance.
However, it's also important to note that not all woke activism falls into these traps. There are many people and movements doing genuine, community centered work. The challenge is ensuring that being woke doesn’t become synonymous with imposing one’s worldview or seeking self validation, but instead focuses on listening, learning, following and supporting those at the heart of the struggle.
In short, the white savior complex, and colonialist undertones serves as a reminder to approach activism with humility. It’s about showing up in a way that uplifts others not about being seen as a hero.
The relationship between woke culture and the risk of infantilizing victims of systemic racism is a nuanced and important topic. Infantilization occurs when individuals or groups are treated as if they lack the agency, capacity, or intelligence to advocate for themselves. While often well intentioned, certain attitudes or behaviors can unintentionally perpetuate this dynamic, undermining the very empowerment they aim to promote.
Manifestations of Infantilization
Over Protection: Some narratives frame marginalized groups as perpetually helpless or in need of saving by more "enlightened" individuals. For example, constantly speaking for communities affected by systemic racism, rather than amplifying their voices, can come across as assuming they lack the ability to represent themselves.
Reducing People to Their Oppression: In the name of staying woke, individuals or institutions may fixate on someone’s identity solely through the lens of their victimhood. While it’s important to acknowledge systemic challenges, reducing people to the hardships they face risks denying their full humanity, including their resilience, creativity, and agency.
Performative Empathy: When allies perform outrage or sorrow without engaging in meaningful action, they risk centering their own feelings rather than the needs of the community. This can infantilize those affected by implying that their pain needs external validation to be acknowledged or taken seriously.
Assumptions About Solutions: Infantilization can also appear in how solutions to systemic racism are proposed. For example, crafting policies or programs for marginalized groups without involving their input assumes that outside perspectives are inherently better equipped to address their problems.
The Harm of Infantilization
Infantilization can reinforce the very power imbalances that systemic racism creates. When marginalized people are treated as passive victims rather than active agents, it undermines their ability to lead, organize, and define their own liberation. It can also perpetuate stereotypes, such as the idea that people from certain racial backgrounds are less capable or need constant guidance from others.
Striking a Balance
To avoid infantilizing those affected by systemic racism while staying woke, the focus should shift toward empowerment and partnership.
Rather than speaking for marginalized communities, allies should amplify their voices and ensure they are included in decision-making processes.
Recognize the resilience, leadership, and agency of those fighting systemic racism, rather than viewing them solely as victims.
Instead of assuming what’s needed, listen to the lived experiences of the people directly impacted and follow their lead.
Move beyond performative gestures to engage in tangible efforts that challenge oppressive systems and support sustainable change.
Ultimately, being woke should mean being conscious of the balance between addressing systemic issues and respecting the agency of those affected by them. True allyship uplifts, listens toand collaborates; it doesn’t patronize.
The far-right’s use of woke as a slur is a fascinating example of how memes evolves and becomes politicized. Over the past decade, woke has been co-opted and weaponized by conservative and far-right commentators to ridicule progressive values and social justice efforts. What started as a call for awareness and vigilance against injustice has, in some circles, been reframed as a caricature of liberal overreach to the point of painting it as a religion or Authoritarian Regime.
How Woke Became a Target
The term woke initially gained prominence as a positive affirmation within progressive spaces, symbolizing an awareness of systemic inequalities. However, as it became more mainstream, critics began associating it with what they saw as excessive political correctness, virtue signaling, authoritarianism or cult mindset. The far-right seized on this shift, using woke as shorthand for mocking progressive policies, activism, and cultural shifts they oppose.
Conservative media played a significant role in this transformation. Pundits began using woke to describe everything from diversity initiatives in corporations to discussions about historical injustices, often framing these efforts as overly sensitive, divisive, or absurd. The term became a catch-all for anything they deemed leftist or radical.
Movements like Black Lives Matter, Me Too, and climate activism, many of which gained traction through woke awareness, faced backlash from far-right groups who framed them as attacks on traditional values or national identity. Woke became a slur to dismiss these efforts as overly idealistic or authoritarian.
The Far-Right’s Use of Woke Today
Far-right commentators often use woke to deride policies and practices aimed at inclusion, such as gender-neutral language, critical race theory, or environmental activism. For instance, a corporate campaign promoting diversity might be labeled as woke pandering.
Critics on the far-right sometimes argue that woke culture stifles free speech or imposes moral conformity. This framing casts progressives as the new oppressors, forcing their values onto others.
The term woke has become a rallying cry in the broader culture wars, symbolizing a perceived threat to tradition and individual freedoms. It’s often paired with pejorative terms like “woke mob” or “woke agenda” to paint progressives as unreasonable or dangerous.
Why This Strategy Works
- Simplicity: Turning woke into a slur makes it a simple and effective rhetorical tool. It condenses complex debates about race, gender, and equity into a single, dismissive term.
- Appealing to Base Fears: By framing woke initiatives as threats to personal freedoms or cultural heritage, far-right figures tap into fears about change and loss of identity.
- Undermining Serious Issues: Labeling legitimate discussions about inequality as woke allows critics to sidestep substantive engagement. It shifts the focus from the issues at hand to mocking the perceived extremity of those advocating for change.
The far-right’s use of woke as a slur has polarized discourse around social justice. It discourages nuanced conversations and fosters a sense of cynicism, where legitimate calls for equity are dismissed as frivolous or oppressive. Moreover, it can alienate people who might otherwise engage with progressive ideas, pushing them into opposition instead.
In the end, the far-right’s co-opting of woke underscores how powerful and divisive language can be in shaping cultural and political battles.
Adopting the woke label as a badge of honor is an act of reclaiming and redefining the term in the face of its weaponization. It’s a way for people to stand their ground against critics who use woke as a slur, transforming it back into a positive affirmation of awareness, compassion, and the pursuit of justice.
Why Reclaim the Label?
To those who embrace the term, being woke means staying vigilant about inequality, standing against oppression, and advocating for fairness and inclusion. By owning the label, supporters affirm their commitment to these principles and refuse to let opponents define or dilute them.
Far-right critics often use woke as an insult to dismiss progressive values as frivolous or harmful. Adopting the label says, “Yes, I care about these issues, and I’m proud of it,” turning the intended insult into a statement of pride.
Reclaiming woke shifts the focus back to the systemic problems it originally addressed. It’s a reminder that the term isn’t about being overly sensitive or performative, it’s about recognizing injustice and striving for change.
How People Are Reclaiming Woke
Many individuals openly describe themselves as woke to signal their awareness and allyship. For them, it’s not a trend but a genuine commitment to learning, growing, and advocating for marginalized groups.
Organizations and activists have embraced woke in their branding or messaging to take the sting out of its misuse. For example, campaigns might include phrases like “Proud to be Woke” to reclaim the term and reframe it positively.
Some have leaned into the term with humor, mocking the absurdity of its detractors. By using woke as a self-identifier in a cheeky or defiant way, they disarm critics and make the label less intimidating.
Reclaiming woke often involves educating others about its historical and cultural roots. By highlighting its origins in African American Vernacular English and its ties to civil rights struggles, people restore its dignity and depth.
Some Challenges of Reclaiming Woke
Continued Polarization: While reclaiming woke is empowering for some, it can further entrench divisions. Critics might double down, using the term even more aggressively to dismiss progressive causes.
Misunderstandings: In its reclaimed form, woke risks being misunderstood by those unfamiliar with its history or who associate it solely with its weaponized version. This highlights the need for ongoing conversations about what the term really means.
Balancing Substance with Symbolism: Adopting woke as a label is meaningful, but it’s equally important to pair it with actions. Otherwise, it risks being perceived as performative—a criticism that woke culture already faces.
Why It Matters
In its original use, woke meant being alert to the specific discrimination and systemic harm suffered by black Americans. More recently, it has been adopted as a ubiquitous watchword for a wide variety of social movements, including LGBTQ+ issues, feminism, immigration, poverty, climate change and marginalised communities.The term "woke" originated as a call to be aware of the specific discrimination and systemic injustices experienced by black Americans. It served as a reminder to stay vigilant and actively oppose the racism and prejudice faced by the Black community.
However, the term has undergone a significant evolution in recent times. It has been embraced and broadened by a diverse array of social movements, each seeking to address various forms of inequality and marginalization. "Woke" has become a catch-all term encompassing advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, immigrant rights, environmental justice, and support for other marginalized groups.
This expansion of the term reflects a growing awareness and interconnectedness of social justice issues. It signifies a recognition that different forms of oppression often intersect and reinforce one another. By adopting the term "woke," these movements acknowledge the shared struggle for equity and justice.
Reclaiming woke is about more than a word it’s about refusing to let those who resist progress and profit from inequity dictate the terms of the debate. By standing unapologetically in solidarity with marginalized communities of all kinds and embracing woke as a call to action, supporters can turn the tables on its critics and refocus the conversation on what truly matters: fighting for a fairer, more just world.