Lifting the RACIST veil behind the term "WOKE".

[Imallin4Joe]

WOKE
The latest term used by right-wing racists, sexists, antigay bigots.

Used commonly by Fucker Carlson, Hannity, and almost every RW nutjob on youtube and other similar social media outlets.

I'm surprised that Mike Lindell didn't call his new social media website, WOKE instead of FRANK.

Consider WOKE as the newest derogatory term. It is veiled racism.

Right-wingers, are you really this fucking stupid that reasonable people wouldn't be able to see through your bullshit?

WOKE is today's racial slur.

I'd like to see Dem leaders call out the racists that use this term.

[Frustratedlady]

1. Well, now I don't feel so stupid for not understanding what it means.

I don't identify with that group of idiots.

[maxsolomon]

13. It means "aware"

It was in a Leadbelly song in 1938. 83 years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woke

[SCantiGOP]

2. Why is Woke racist?

The first time I heard the phrase it was being used by Progressives.

[Claire Oh Nette]

6. Woke originated in Black circles

While pinpointing slang origins is often tricky,

Erykah Badu’s song “Master Teacher, 2008

Even if yo baby ain't got no money
To support ya baby, you
(I stay woke)
Even when the preacher tell you some lies
And cheatin on ya mama, you stay woke
(I stay woke)
Even though you go through struggle and strife
To keep a healthy life, I stay woke
(I stay woke)
Everybody knows a black or a white there's creatures in every shape and size
Everybody
(I stay woke)


it's a term from Black culture that moved mainstream at the end of GWB's term as it was clear Obama was likely to be on the ticket.

Stay woke for Black people, then woke for describing white allies.

Woke has undergone pejorification--turned into a slur against those who are social justice activists. It's code for racists to use to lump all the non fascist, racist, homophobists together.

It's also a sign that being woke is working, and the racists are uncomfortable and lashing out.

[Celerity]

11. 'If You're Woke You Dig It', NYT, May 20, 1962

If You're Woke You Dig It; No mickey mouse can be expected to follow today's Negro idiom without a hip assist. If You're Woke You Dig It

By William Melvin Kelley
May 20, 1962




https://www.nytimes.com/1962/05/20/archives/if-youre-woke-you-dig-it-no-mickey-mouse-can-be-expected-to-follow.html

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/05/20/140720532.pdf

[Claire Oh Nette]

15. Love this!

Thanks.

Everything old is new again.

[Caliman73]

8. The term "Woke" is not racist.

When Conservatives use it, they use it to signal "Black people stuff" so as to turn off White voters.

Same thing with "liberal" which to us means someone who uses logic, reason, and the scientific method to gain knowledge, but keeps an open mind to the experiences of others. Values personal freedoms, but balances them with the needs of the community, etc... When conservatives got ahold of it in the 70's and 80's they meant "hippies" and scumbags, communists and nanny staters.

Conservative always try to use our own liberal/progressive/culturally sensitive language against us. They are the racists and they make our terms into coded racist language for their side and the weak minded fence riders who are "uncomfortable" with "identity politics".

[Triloon]

3. Well go ahead and lift it then.

Looks to me like you pay too much attention to RW sources. "Woke" predates anything Fox has to say about, it by a long time. I don't rely on Fox to define anything for me. So please tell me what is racist about Woke. Besides the racist reactionary foaming-at-the-mouth RW insults to people seeking racial equality and justice.

[Scrivener7]

4. Uhhhmmmm..... no.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. lol what on earth

[Hekate]

7. I think you got that wrong

[Moostache]

9. 1990's "Urban", 2020's "Woke"

There will be more...we are dealing with a subset of humans that stretch back to pre-colonial times and plantation economic models steeped in racism and worse.

As stated above...it is used to apply a pejorative epithet, to signal to other like minded people.

[maxsolomon]

10. The Right is trying to make it a slander.

Like "SJW" or "Virtue Signalling".

That is going swimmingly, along with their incessant "Democrats are the Real Racists" Gish Gallop.

[boston bean]

12. I can't count the times I was called a sjw on this website.

All when discussing feminist issues.

[maxsolomon]

14. I hear you.

There are times when DU isn't particularly Progressive.

[uponit7771]

16. +1,

[Silent3]

17. I think you, and also some people who will fiercely disagree with you, are missing...

...something important about the flexibility of language by usage and context.

The word "woke" is both the good notion of being aware of privilege and prejudice, of fighting for rights and justice, and it is a slur in the mouths of the right wing, at the same time.

"Woke" is both an appropriate response to the injustices of our times, and it is also an obnoxious game of virtue signalling, at the same time.

Only context will make it clear how the word should be taken. If you insist that there's only ONE TRUE MEANING, and deliberately ignore context and what a person using the word might have meant, you'll only foster pointless miscommunication and misunderstanding.