The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of “woke” is

“…aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).” Recently, some groups have used “woke” as a pejorative.

Where does the word come from, and what does it mean?

            In the United States in the 1930s, the expression “stay woke” became part of the African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). It’s possible that Lead Belly, an American folk and blues musician and singer, made the term universally recognizable. Lead Belly recorded a song called “Scottsboro Boys” in 1938, telling the narrative of the nine black teenagers who were falsely accused of raping two white women seven years earlier in Alabama. Warning listeners to be careful when they travel through that area. “…best stay woke, keep their eyes open.”

While the phrase initially applied to people of color, in 2010, it began to be used by other marginalized individuals, raising awareness of social injustice. Racial injustice, sexism, LGBTQIA+ rights, the American uses the term left in connection with political identity and social justice.  

Florida Governor DeSantis uses the term as a criticism of progressive thinkers. “We reject woke ideology,” DeSantis said in his election night speech. “We will never ever surrender to the woke agenda. People have come here because of our policies.”

That sounds like being aware or ‘woke’ is bad. It’s never wrong to be conscious of the dangers you might face. And, let’s be frank, there are places in our country that aren’t safe for people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, Muslims, Jews, or women. I am always aware of my surroundings. I’m a Jewish, disabled, female senior. You better believe I make it my business to be mindful of what our government is doing that could negatively affect my life: healthcare, Social Security, and women’s rights. I have grown children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I want to know that their futures are as secure as possible.

The current political atmosphere in the United States causes me grave concerns. Books are being banned, women’s rights are being diminished, people of color and LGBTQIA are threatened, anti-semitism is on the rise, and school shootings have become a regular occurrence. This is not the America I was raised in. This is not the country I want to see my grandchildren and great-grandchildren raised in.

Ask yourself, what kind of country do you want to leave to generations yet to come? Do you want a country based on freedom, that struggled to provide equality to all, to be your legacy? Or do you want a future based on fear, anger, and ignorance? The choice is ours. What we do today will be written in history books. What will future generations think of us? How will we be judged? Think about it.