Woke

Today, the term “woke” is often used as a weapon by the extreme right to discredit those who seek equality for all, social justice and an accurate teaching of history and science. 

It is also used by the extreme left as it seeks to have everyone conform to their views of political correctness. 

The Merriam Webster Dictionary states that to be "woke" politically means that someone is informed, educated and conscious of social injustice and racial inequality.

The rise of wokeness has had a significant impact on the political landscape. While it has brought attention to marginalized voices and sparked important conversations, the concept of wokeness has also become a divisive force in politics. 

Wokeness has played a crucial role in American political activism, mobilizing individuals and communities to fight for social justice. By raising awareness about systemic oppression and inequality, wokeness has brought marginalized voices to the forefront of political discourse. It has shed light on issues such as racial discrimination, gender inequality, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental justice, forcing politicians and policymakers to address these concerns.

Wokeness has also been instrumental in organizing grassroots movements and protests in America, such as the Black Lives Matter movement and the Women's March. These movements have successfully brought attention to issues that were previously overlooked or dismissed, leading to tangible policy changes the civil rights legislations of the sixties, and increased accountability for those in power.

However, the political impact of wokeness is not without its challenges and limitations. The tendency to view issues through a narrow lens of oppression can sometimes hinder broader coalition-building and dialogue. This can lead to a polarization of political discourse, where individuals are categorized solely based on their identities, rather than engaging in substantive policy discussions.

Wokeness and anti-wokeness have become divisive forces in politics, with critics arguing that it promotes a culture of victimhood and stifles free speech. Some argue that the movement's focus on political correctness and “cancel culture” has created an environment where individuals fear expressing dissenting opinions, leading to a chilling effect on open dialogue and intellectual diversity.

Moreover, the concept of wokeness has been weaponized by both the left and the right, leading to a polarization of political ideologies. The right often portrays wokeness as an attack on traditional values and an attempt to silence conservative voices.  

Indeed, one only has to look at the Florida of Governor Ron DeSantis who has said that Florida is the state where woke has come to die. He has banned black history courses and LGBTQ discussions in classrooms including state universities, claiming that these discussions only exacerbate “traditional” values. What they do, in actual fact, is promote racism and ostracism.

On the other hand, the left sometimes engages in purity tests, dismissing individuals who do not align with every aspect of the movement's ideology. This ideological rigidity can alienate potential allies and hinder the formation of broad-based coalitions necessary for political change.

The political impact of wokeness is a double-edged sword. 

On one hand, it has brought attention to marginalized voices, mobilized grassroots movements, and forced politicians to address social justice concerns. Wokeness has played a crucial role in raising awareness about systemic oppression and inequality. However, it has given the extreme right a weapon to use against any progressive policies and politicians and it has used “woke” as a derogatory label rather than as a condition that promotes social justice and equity.

Since wokeness defined means respect for others, a fight for social and economic justice, the promotion of fact-based study of history and science based political and medical decisions, concern for the environment, and the inclusion of all in a broad consensus, wokeness through dialogue should be our objective in public policy and private lives.

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Edition: Estefanía Cardeña