Understanding Woke Culture and How It Has Been Misused

In recent years, the term "woke culture" has become a tasty issue in mainstream discourse both offline and online. Originating from African American Vernacular English (AAVE), "woke" was originally known as being aware of social and racial injustices. Like many other terms that have been snatched from the creators. "Woke" has also not survived the diabolical onslaught.

At least with documentation available at this moment in time, the term has been expanded to include a broader awareness of various societal issues relating to various forms of injustice and the subjugation of people or even animals.

Woke culture has become a way for people to call out disturbing behavior and hold "people and institutions" responsible for their actions, and one would think, what are these actions? Actions of injustice. With many "anti-woke repercaustionist" calling it "an attack". The issues have brought about significant dialogues, like many town hall meetings of many opposing parties. It has ushered in a much-needed awareness of issues that were previously ignored, rejected, or openly or covertly marginalized. In trying to understand wokeness, one will have to shimmer light on the many mischaracterized expressions that have also been widely "misused and weaponized" as a way of attacking "people and groups" who don't conform to certain "beliefs or ideologies".

These Are Some Familiar Ways That The Term "Woke Culture" Has Been Misused:

• To dismiss legitimate criticism as "cancel culture". (A legitimate criticism is founded on factual evidence, rational reasoning, and constructive feedback to improve a situation or behavior).
• To mock and belittle people who express concern for social justice issues.
• To liken social justice advocacy with political correctness.

(Social justice is all about making things fair and equal for everyone in society, especially for those who have been treated unfairly in the past. It's about fixing the problems of inequality and making society more inclusive and fair for everyone.

Political correctness is when people use language or act in ways that won't offend others or go against a certain way of thinking. It can sometimes be used to stop people from speaking their minds or having open discussions.)

• To accuse people of being "woke" as a way of "shutting down conversation or debate".
• To claim that woke culture is a threat to "free speech and academic freedom"
• To use the term as a way of attacking "progressive policies or ideas’’. (Progressive policies and ideas refer to a set of political views that aim to promote social, economic, and environmental justice. They include policies that prioritize the needs of marginalized groups, such as low-income families, people of color, etc. Progressive ideas often call for changes in government policy, such as increasing access to healthcare and education, raising the minimum wage, and implementing measures to address climate change. These policies aim to create a more equitable and just society for everyone regardless of their background or condition).
• To accuse individuals of being "virtue signalers" for expressing support for social justice issues. (Virtue signaling is when someone publicly shows support for a particular belief or cause, often in an attempt to appear credible or good.)
• To equate being "woke" with being overly sensitive or politically correct.
• To accuse people of being "social justice warriors" as a way of discrediting their arguments.
• To use the term as a way of attacking the validity of social justice movements or activism.

Here Are Other Ways People Misuse "Woke Culture", (People Who Claim To Be Woke But Are Not)

• Performative activism: People who perform their activism. They think being an activist is a way to become popular. These people are many on social media, and outside social media. Some can be Lawyers or Doctors parading as social justice warriors. They often ride on issues and when it comes to addressing the underlying problems they fail. They might take a photo or make videos of themselves at a protest, file cases in court, raise money from donors, etc.
• "Woke-washing": Some companies have perfected the art of using social justice issues to sell products and services without actually dealing with systemic problems. For example, a Bank that promotes the idea of working with immigrants on social media but doesn’t hire immigrants even if eligible.
• Narcissist Activism: These people make discussions about activism all about themselves, they are not truly engaging with the issues at hand. This includes things like saying "not all men" and then going ahead to use yourself as an example. in response to discussions about sexism.
• Tokenizing marginalized individuals: This is when people of power or normal people use members of marginalized communities to make themselves appear "woke". For example, a company hires a woman and uses her image in marketing materials, but doesn’t address the larger issue of misogyny in the workplace.
• Using "woke" terminology without understanding the issues at play:

These people specialize in using buzzwords and phrases like "intersectionality" or "cultural appropriation" without actually understanding the origins and usage of those terms.

• Cancel culture: This is the exercise of boycotting, protecting or publicly shaming people or companies or organizations that have said or done something offensive or problematic. Nevertheless, some people use weaponizing this as a way to quiet and shut down dialogues, rather than using it to create a solution.
• All-or-nothing thinking: This is when people use the cover of blanketing that all issues fall under a black-and-white view, regarding social justice. For example, saying that anyone who disagrees with them on a particular issue is automatically dumb.
• Blaming people for systemic issues:

When people with power blame people without power for their oppression rather than acknowledging the larger societal structures that create those problems. Like saying that people experiencing poverty just need to work harder, rather than admitting the systemic obstacles that make it impossible for them to succeed beyond a certain level.

• Allyship for personal gain: We see this alot on social media, especially from political elite, lawyers, etc. When they claim to be allies to marginalized communities, but only do so for personal gain. For example, a politician who talks about their support for women’s rights during election season, but then votes against women rights when in office.
• Appropriating cultures: We see this a lot with brands in fashion, and other industries. They cherry pick cultures and traditions and use it to pass a brand message or create a product or service line without understanding or respecting the culture’s history or significance.

It is significant to understand that many of these misuses of the term "woke culture" are often utilized by people who are resistant to social and cultural change.

In an article for The Atlantic, Conor Friedersdorf argues that "critics of woke culture sometimes seem to suggest that there is something inherently wrong with being concerned about social justice." He goes on to emphasize that "when it comes to actual policy prescriptions, woke culture is more a set of questions and critiques than a coherent ideology." What he means is that: Woke culture is "a way of thinking" that "raises questions and criticism" about society and its problems, but it doesn't have a clear set of solutions or policies.

One prominent case study that accentuates the knottiness of woke culture is the debate surrounding the Netflix TV series, "Dear White People." The TV series, which focuses on the experiences of black students at a predominantly white Ivy League university (the fictional Winchester University), was originally praised for its impression of complex characters and nuanced discussions of "race and identity".

Nevertheless, it also faced backlash from some viewers who felt that it was promoting "reverse racism" and attacking white people.

The debate surrounding "Dear White People" intensifies how discussions of woke culture can quickly become divisive and polarizing.

To understand why, let's unpack reverse racism first. The term "reverse racism" refers to the belief that people in a racial group that have historically held power and privilege in society are now passing through "discrimination or prejudice" based solely on their race. In the case of the TV series "Dear White People," some viewers felt that the TV series was unfairly targeting white people and promoting the idea that they are inherently racist or oppressive simply because of their race.

But is the TV series doing this?

This idea is being fueled by a combination of factors, including a lack of understanding of the concept of structural racism and the ways in which it immortalizes inequality in the machinery of society. And just like some white people claim, "I am poor, how could I have benefitted from racial injustice?"

Many white people who watch the TV series become uncomfortable with the idea of being confronted with the realities of racism and its impact on people of color. Another thing to point to is the larger cultural trend of pushback against the "ideas of social justice and diversity and inclusion initiatives", as some people feel that they are being unfairly blamed for societal problems based on their race or gender. (Remember the march in August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. A white supremacist rally that turned violent, resulting in clashes between the white supremacists and counter-protesters.

During the rally, the white supremacists chanted slogans such as "Jews will not replace us" and "Blood and soil," a slogan associated with Nazi Germany).

Well, at its core, woke culture is about creating a more just and fair society. As I said earlier, it is like many other movements out there, and anything existing at the moment will give rise to disagreements and debates. The problem isn't in these conversations, it is the absence of empathy and an openness to learning from debaters.

In my humble opinion, it is always good to follow these issues from the testaments of academic research, not just pseudoscience but verified resources. People searching for truth can always turn to the works of scholars who have written vastly on the topic.

In her book, "Woke: A Guide to Social Justice," author and journalist, Titania McGrath, explores the origins and evolution of woke culture.

She explains that while the term may have originated in AAVE, it has since been appropriated by mainstream culture and has taken on a broader meaning. McGrath also accentuates how woke culture has been used to challenge societal norms and to facilitate greater awareness of social justice issues.

Social psychologist, Jonathan Haidt, wrote on the topic of "political polarization" and the rise of what he calls "safety culture."

In his book, "The Coddling of the American Mind," Haidt argues that the increasing intensity of safety and the suppression of dissenting viewpoints has led to a culture of intolerance and tribalism in the United States. He warns against the use of "woke" as "a way of attacking individuals" who hold different opinions but rather advocates for greater "openness and tolerance" in public conversations.

Woke culture is going to continue to be a big topic with many different parts, and some people will continue to have real worries or complaints about it. Particularly because so many people who are now using it do not understand what it means and finding out what it truly means might teach you something that you do not want to accept. Several people prefer to stick to what fans and inflame the fire enlarging the cost of their bias. These biases might have brought them followers, admirers, fame, money, etc.

But what is greater than harmony between humans, why are peace and respect so expensive?

We must accept that disagreements are part of our existence, and by knowing this… We must use "conscious kindness" and an "open attitude" rather than using "woke" as an excuse to stop talking or ratifying different opinions. If we listen carefully to each other and talk with respect, we are inadvertently being "woke" by consciously advocating fairness and equality for everyone in and outside our communities.

Picture by Teemu Paananen

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