How Woke can we be? The meaning of Woke
by Donald H. Marks, Physician and Scientist
"Woke" and Woke-ism may be just another hot button red meat word/slur, but one which may describe a heightened awareness of social and political issues, particularly those related to inequality and systemic oppression. To be "Woke" implies that an individual is aware of the many ways in which societal structures and systems can perpetuate inequalities, and is actively working to address these issues. But, Woke-ism can and will also be used as a slur, more so as we head into the 2024 election cycle.
A practical definition of being "Woke" might include:
Acknowledging and challenging one's own privilege and biases.
Educating oneself on social and political issues, including those affecting marginalized communities.
Engaging in activism or advocacy work to promote social justice.
Listening to and centering the voices of marginalized communities in discussions and decision-making processes.
On the other hand, since I view Woke as a hot button trigger word http://bit.ly/3TcuT4I , it can also be used as a pejorative term to categorize and label liberals or social activists as raising issues that are divisive, not as important as some people might think, and creating a wedge in our society.
My understanding is that the term "Woke" originated as an African American term meant to describe a state of awareness or vigilance, particularly around issues of social justice and racial inequality. The earliest known use of the term "Woke" seems to have been in a 1940s song by blues musician Huddie William Ledbetter (better known as Lead Belly) called "Scottsboro Boys". In the song, Ledbetter sings: "I advise everybody to be wise, to be awake. The Scottsboro Boys are innocent." So the appellation Woke is not new.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the term "Woke" became more widely used in African American communities as a way to describe a heightened awareness of social and political issues. The term gained renewed popularity in the 2010s, particularly with the rise of social media and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The implications of being "Woke" can vary depending on the individual and the context in which the term is used. In some cases, being "Woke" can be seen as a positive trait, indicating that an individual is socially conscious and actively working to make the world a more just and equitable place. However, the term can also be used in a negative or dismissive way, suggesting that an individual is overly concerned with social justice issues or is virtue-signaling without taking meaningful action. This is why being Woke is for me practically speaking just another hot button word, not designed to promote thought but rather to trigger an emotional response.
Ultimately, the implications of being "Woke" depend on how an individual approaches the concept and how they put it into practice in their daily lives.
Suggested readings on Woke
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/upshot/woke-meaning-democrats-republicans.html
https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/of-course-you-know-what-woke-means/comments
Additional writings of Donald H. Marks, physician-scientist
Reliable news sources I personally use http://bit.ly/3kECPvr
Fake News: Everything You Need to Know http://bit.ly/345cj95
Best Online Free Fact-Checking Tools http://bit.ly/3H97I44
Fact-Checking: The Ways We Can Fight Fake News http://bit.ly/3qudEyX
Infodemic: the epidemic of information http://bit.ly/3fV7BgN
The Curious Case of Deepfakes http://bit.ly/3GZJdXhn
My personal list of Red Flags, Dog Whistles, Buzzwords, Hot Button words and meaningless caricatures that will drive toxic algorithms to heat and twist elections and trigger hatred on social media. http://bit.ly/3TcuT4I
Einstein, Relativity and Relative Ethics https://bit.ly/3gWWH9t
What I Haven’t Told My Family on the Meaning of Time. https://bit.ly/374cpzJ
Jonas Salk, Polio Vaccine and Vaccinating Against Hate, https://bit.ly/3xjtosh
Link to my Favorite Booksš (and recent read list) https://bit.ly/3ok9Ux
My ever-updating fav list of coffee shops and espresso blends and locations https://bit.ly/3IkqOHE
Elitists Neocons Neolibs, oh my. What are they, who are they, and why should I care? http://bit.ly/3LMrs0e
Undermoney. Techno economic political thriller by Jay Newman. Reviewed by Donald Harvey Marks https://bit.ly/3Fa4wqb
How Woke can we be? The meaning of Woke (this article) https://bit.ly/3Fd7fPy
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