Once a positive clarion call to action, now a pejorative term of abuse
The term ‘woke’, which historically was a term that was predominantly used within the African American Civil Rights movement and Black popular culture, is losing its mojo as it has become globally mainstreamed. A word that was once regarded as a positive clarion call to action is now largely relegated to being used as a pejorative term of abuse. For example, ‘woke’ has gone from:
‘Actively informing oneself about the history and experiences of a marginalized and disadvantaged group in society and using your platform or position to bring about some positive change’
to:
Accusing an organisation of being overly sensitive because, for example, it disinvites a speaker because they have expressed hostile views towards the use of diversity targets and other measures intended to diversify a homogenous workforce. Those hostile to the speaker being disinvited argue that this is another example of ‘woke’ culture going too far.
The interesting points for me in regard to ‘woke’s’ fall from grace are:
· Firstly, the demise has taken place in a relatively short period of time, since the term was mainstreamed and exposed outside of a largely African American audience, largely due to the Black Lives Matter campaign
· Secondly, there seems to be very low levels of understanding regarding the true origins of the term ‘woke’.
Origins of ‘woke’
In 1923,Marcus Garvey – a Jamaican philosopher and political activist – in a speech to ‘Negro Mine Workers’ seeking to rally them in response to discriminatory pay and conditions said, "Wake up Ethiopia! Wake up Africa. We were asleep. But we will stay woke from now on.” The Oxford English Dictionary credits William Melvin Kelley – African American novelist & civil rights campaigner– and cites his reference in Kelley’s 1962 New York Times Magazine article titled "If You're Woke You Dig It", “describing the appropriation of African American/Black slang by white beatniks” (young and artistic people who rejected the mores of conventional society). Some might say this is quite ironic given what has happened to ‘woke’! The musician, Erykah Badu, and the Black Lives Matters movement have amplified the original call to action to challenge historic and contemporary discrimination and injustice affecting Black and other people of colour. Being ‘woke’ was about being alert and taking agency to address injustices that were seen as pervasive and persistent.
Why the demise?
There appears to be a modern trend with ‘equity catchphrase’ terms (equity symbolic term that garners rapid support amongst supporters) such as ‘woke’ being brought into disrepute by the mainstream media, who then redefines its popular use. For example, remember the demise of ‘Political Correctness’ (PC)? The use of PC in the early 1990s and early 2000s was associated with the idea of avoiding language or behaviour which could be regarded as discriminatory or offensive, particularly in respect to race, gender, and other personal characteristics. Most reasonable people, I think, would be supportive of such a term. However, PC became debased, resulting in it being used as a term of abuse, to the extent that the term has become so toxic that it is no longer one that is used by advocates of equity, social and political justice. Currently, reference to ‘woke’ is overwhelmingly negative, to the extent that you would struggle to find examples in the mainstream media of ‘woke’ being used ‘correctly’, which is conditioning society’s use and understanding of ‘woke’.
Defence of ‘woke’
Media organisations who are more sensitised to challenges faced by African American and other people of colour tend to be far less pejorative in their use of ‘woke’. It is argued that this is because there is a more developed understanding of the back story to ‘woke’. It is the mainstream media where the positive reclamation of ‘woke’ needs to take place. Currently, references to ‘woke’ in the mainstream media tend to be generally negative and used to invalidate and/or ridicule progressive actions and thinking which seek to advance equity of opportunity and social &economic justice for historically disadvantaged groups and individuals. The reclamation of ‘woke’ needs to be led by progressives within the mainstream media, and will help to create a safer and more positive environment for those seeking to champion equity, diversity and inclusion within the workplace and civic society, whilst also disrupting institutionalised discrimination.
‘Woke’ – misused and abused
The general misuse and abuse of ‘woke’ is very concerning as the majority of those using ‘woke’ in a pejorative manner are doing so without any real awareness of the cultural, civic and political historic importance and meaning of ‘woke’. Many ‘woke’ abusers appear to believe that the current negative inference associated with ‘woke’ was always the case.
Many in the global African diaspora have used Black artistic popular culture to try and reclaim and rehabilitate the ‘N’ word. The reclaiming of ‘woke’ should be less controversial and challenging given its origin – we just need to be ‘woke’!
Some may ask, ‘Isn’t this just a big fuss about nothing?’ I would argue that it certainly is not, because ‘woke’ has increasingly become a ‘cool’ slur, to be applied to anything that is regarded as progressive or challenges the status quo. Those who believe that society has lost its way in wanting to create a more meritocratic society are increasingly able to shut down proposed progressive change or thinking and go unchallenged through the misuse of labelling things ‘woke.’ In order to stop this misuse and abuse of ‘woke’, champions of equity of opportunity and social & economic justice need to reclaim ‘woke’ and restore its true meaning and purpose. A great place to start is the next time someone misuses this historically venerated term – stay ‘woke’, challenge and enlighten!
Ngā mihi,
Earle Wilkes,
Equity Matters Limited
