The Opposite of Woke is Comatose
And conservatives are losing the culture wars
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has made the word “woke” a key part of his brand, saying things like his state is where “woke goes to die” and conjuring an imaginary “woke mob.” But what does “woke” mean?
When originally coined in the Black community, it meant to be careful of racists and racist systems and laws. The first known recording of the word being used to mean that was in a 1938 Lead Belly song called “Scottsboro Boys,” according to NPR.
Go to Alabama and you better watch out. The landlord’ll get you, going to jump and shout. Scottsboro, Scottsboro boys, tell you what it’s all about. I’m going to tell all you colored people...So I advise everybody, be a little careful when they go along through Alabama — stay woke, keep their eyes open. ~Lead Belly
The Scottsboro Boys were nine Black boys accused of raping two white woman in one of the most well-known cases of racial injustice in American history. Their case was partly responsible for inspiring the book and movie To Kill a Mockingbird and sparking the Civil Rights Movement. So the term “woke” began as a warning to Black people that their lives are in danger and to stay awake and aware in order to protect themselves.
