Embracing the Woke

[sheshe2]

Embracing the Woke
What's so wrong with compassion, safety and racial justice?

Steven Beschloss



Every time I hear the word “woke” used as a pejorative weapon, I wish it were just a joke. How is compassion, empathy and care for racial and social justice not something to embrace?

This week the Florida state legislature is expanding its attacks on “critical race theory,” gender studies, sexual identity, programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as faculty who stray from the planned GOP restrictions. House Bill 999, for example, taking aim at higher education, seeks to outlaw spending on such programs and eliminate majors and minors focused on these issues. (The alternatives proposed: general ed courses that “promote the philosophical underpinnings of Western civilization.”)

In a country founded on free speech and freedom more broadly, this rights-shrinking mentality seems like gaslighting. Do these folks really want to turn the clock backwards? Do they really want to deny the truthful study of American history? Do they really think they make the world better by attacking vulnerable populations, stripping individual rights, rejecting academic freedom and passing laws meant to repress and oppress?

I wrote last August about some of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ridiculous speechmaking on the topic of wokeness and his anti-woke agenda, as if he’s engaged in a Churchillian, WWII-level struggle against the forces of evil. “We must fight the woke in our schools. We must fight the woke in our businesses. We must fight the woke in government agencies. We can never ever surrender to woke ideology.” Seriously.

more:https://america.substack.com/p/embracing-the-woke

The origin of “stay woke” dates to at least 1938 when blues musician Lead Belly spoke about the Scottsboro Boys, nine Black teenagers who were falsely accused of raping two white women.

[SheltieLover]

1. "Woke" also means caring about our planet, "new fangled hippy shit"

to hear the rednecks around here spewing their venom.

Anything that would fall under social conscience makes them uncomfortable.

Btw, per Alfred Adler, a high degree social conscience is a great indicator of sound mental health, or not, qpukes!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. For this thread

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[republianmushroom]

3. like this posting

[Docreed2003]

4. K&R

[RestoreAmerica2020]

5. This.. U.S.Rep. Barbara Lee' s words used in Merriam-Webster to explain woke

Merriam-Webster dictionary is using Rep. Barbara Lee's words to explain what 'woke' means
September 14, 2017 Tron Nick; brownwatch.squarespace.com

woke
1 of 2
adjective
ˈwōk
woker; wokest
Synonyms of woke
chiefly US slang
1
: aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)
But we will only succeed if we reject the growing pressure to retreat into cynicism and hopelessness. … We have a moral obligation to "stay woke," take a stand and be active; challenging injustices and racism in our communities and fighting hatred and discrimination wherever it rises.
—Barbara Lee

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. I love the legal definition of woke

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[betsuni]

7. K&R