Is the Term Woke Losing Its Power?

Words are constantly morphing to the current needs of any modern-day lexicon. People who face challenges and craft problems need language to communicate their intentions and describe their issues. Woke is one such word. Is it losing its power? Let’s take a deep dive into the nuanced answer.

When Did Woke Enter the Political Scene?

Although people might think the term woke came to be in the modern world, it first appeared in a book entitled, “Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey.” The author, Marcus Garvey, wrote the phrase, “What up Ethiopia! Wake up Africa!” to encourage his readers to become aware of systemic inequality that kept Black people at a societal disadvantage due to racism.

Black musicians, leaders and protestors used the idea of waking up in their future work. They described becoming and staying woke to systemic challenges because they required continual progress instead of a one-time solution. In that sense, the term has been in political scenes since its inception. 

Do People Still Say Woke?

Both sides of the political spectrum use woke, but the purposes vary. A recent survey found that 78% of progressive democrats and left-leaning individuals use it for its modern-day definition — to discuss the importance of recognizing systemic issues stemming from or perpetuated by racism.

Traditional conservatives and right-leaning individuals use the term to mock progressives. They’re more likely to define the word as censorship or cancel culture than other ideological groups. Research shows 60% of Republicans also view the term as an insult, likely fueled by their party leaders saying woke individuals are trying to wield wokeness as tyrants to silence their opponents.

Is Woke Losing Its Power?

When does a word become powerless? People may say it’s when the definition no longer applies to the modern world. Pagers used to be a primary form of professional communication. As cell phones replaced them, people joked that their loved ones should page them when they didn’t want to be reachable. Now, no one makes pager jokes. They are rarely seen or used.

Woke is undergoing a similar treatment. Even though left-leaning people use it to discuss political awareness, people on the right use it to describe anything they find ridiculous.

It’s why Tucker Carlson announced that M&M’s had become woke after the green M&M started wearing sneakers instead of go-go boots. The marketing change was a non-problem because no one got hurt by the decision, so it was an extreme way to use a word that describes much more significant issues.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently used it in his political branding as he competes for the 2024 Presidential race. He pushes the idea that Florida is where the woke mind virus goes to die so more right-leaning voters understand how contrasting his views are from other Republican and Democratic candidates.

People also use it to make fun of things they wouldn’t personally do. They might joke that a sleep hygiene routine is woke, even though it strengthens the immune system and helps people rest. In reality, they just don’t want to feel forced into changing their lifestyle.

After reflecting on cultural usages, it’s clear the term woke has retained its original meaning and power while gaining another kind of influence. People say something’s woke when they don’t know much about a topic and feel too embarrassed to ask for an explanation.

It may come from a place of feeling bullied because they expressed a minority view, like how 77% of Republicans think climate change isn’t a threat. They see others experiencing climate anxiety when their loved ones call their representatives or join volunteer groups to manage their stress through empowerment. Because they aren’t equally concerned, it’s easy for people to mock others by using their terminology against them.

A word may also lose power when younger generations decide it’s not something they want to use. Research shows 43% of Americans between 18 and 34 consider the term a compliment. The only slowdown in usage comes from the 38% of Americans older than 65 who don’t know what it means.

It’s essential to evaluate these things when using the word for yourself. Effective communication depends on things like understanding if another person is direct or indirect, but it also depends on how they’ll feel about your word choice. This research demonstrates that the word woke isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, although it can mean multiple things depending on your audience.

Use Your Words With Intention  

It’s always vital to select your words thoughtfully, no matter what you’re discussing. People will only listen to, learn from or bond with you if the unintended offence doesn’t turn them away. Being aware of woke’s multiple usages will help you use it with intention in everyday conversations.

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