Origin of Woke and Anti-Woke

“Woke” is a term created in the AAVE (African American Vernacular Language) that means you are aware of injustices in society, especially those dealing with racism and prejudice. The broader version of “woke” is that you are familiar with the happenings in the world. In recent years, there has been a movement counteracting this concept called “anti-wokeness.” It is a pushback on changing cultural norms in America and a belief that racism and prejudice are prevalent in this country. The reasoning is rooted in their belief that “wokeness” is an indoctrination movement. The “anti-wokeness” goals are to help the younger generation, as some older individuals shed responsibility for the historic wrongdoings tied to race, color, religion, sex, and nationality. 

This movement is harmful because its supporters reject the teaching of problematic historical issues, such as slavery, the holocaust, the trail of tears, and the Japan bombings. They also want to stop Corporate America’s diversity and sensitivity training, which is training to help businesses accommodate for POC (people of color) in primarily white companies, ensuring that no one is offended due to lack of cultural exposure. 

The Ideology Behind It

Furthermore, believers of the movement have expanded their ideology to labeling any mass representation as “woke”; they have turned the word into an insult. If people bring attention to injustice or focus on the world’s issues, especially race and sexuality, it is labeled as “woke” but in a negative connotation. The whole movement promotes hatred toward monitories, whether intentional or not. America is a cultural melting pot, and the world is continuously evolving, so wanting America to stay the same should require self-reflection. They do not have to understand other cultures, but they should not rebel against and hate them. It is essential to learn history; the brutal and gruesome truths are imperative, so that it is not repeated. Even if you feel a little guilty about your ancestors’ past actions, it is an opportunity for you to be different than them and do something right in promoting peace/change. The world has so many different cultures and people; it’s time that people accepted it.