There’s a new boogeyman in town, and its name is “woke.” According to right-wing media, being woke is the root of all our problems — from gas prices to weather patterns to why your microwave won’t stop blinking 12:00.
But let’s get one thing straight: “woke” didn’t start as a slur. It didn’t come from elite universities or liberal think tanks or the Disney vault.
It came from Black families in America.
The Real Origin Story (Spoiler: It’s Not About Canceling Dr. Seuss)
The term “woke” dates back to the early 20th century during the civil rights movement. It was a warning, passed down from Black mothers and fathers to their children — stay awake, stay alert, be aware of the dangers around you. The police, the laws, the system, and yes — the people in your town — might wish to do you harm. So stay woke.
It was about survival in a country where racism was not just a threat, but a daily reality.
Fast-forward to today, and the GOP has twisted that into the punchline of every bad-faith talking point.
To them, “woke” now means… what, exactly? Caring about people? Acknowledging history?
Maybe it’s corporations hiring people of color? Asking not to be murdered for your skin color, your identity, or your bookshelf?
Oh! The horror.
What They’re Really Fighting
Let’s be honest — the so-called “war on woke” isn’t about protecting children from confusing pronouns or banning books about penguins with two dads. It’s about erasing progress.
Because here’s the dirty little secret of the culture war: when you’re not winning on policy, you manufacture panic. You can’t explain why billionaires pay less in taxes than nurses? Blame the woke mob. Can’t stop school shootings? Ban a Toni Morrison novel. Don’t have a plan for healthcare? Say “CRT” 3 times like it’s the villian in some horror movie.
The GOP doesn’t fear “woke ideology.” They fear an informed, empathetic, critically thinking public. People who ask hard questions. People who challenge unjust systems. People who notice when the emperor is wearing a red hat and no pants.
Woke vs. Broke: Follow the Money
While they rage against “wokeness,” what’s actually going on behind the curtain?
- Corporations get tax breaks while schools lose funding.
- Workers get punished for organizing while CEOs cash out.
- You lose your retirement savings while they insider trade off tariff rumors.
But they want you laser-focused on whether a trans kid can use the bathroom. It’s Classic misdirection. It’s not a culture war — it’s class warfare in drag.
The False Martyrdom of the Right
According to today’s right-wing rhetoric, conservatives are the real victims. Victims of… diversity in commercials. Of inclusive pronouns. Of people saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
And in their victim cosplay, they’ve launched actual policies that harm real people:
- Book bans that target Black and LGBTQ+ voices.
- Laws targeting trans youth under the guise of “protecting children.”
- Teachers fired for teaching factual history.
- Drag shows raided while hate groups go unchecked.
And all the while, they scream that they’re the ones being silenced — on nationally televised news networks, with best-selling books. Nothing says “canceled” like having the number one podcasters repeating your talking points. (Hi Joe).
A Movement of Fear, Not Values
Let’s be clear: the “anti-woke” movement isn’t conservative. It’s reactionary. It doesn’t stand for anything — it only stands against things. It’s a movement built on resentment and nostalgia for a time when certain people didn’t have to share power, or empathy, or space.
They don’t want freedom. They want a monopoly on it.
They don’t want safety. They want control.
They don’t want equality. They want to make sure you don’t get too “uppity.”
So… What Now?
Here’s the thing: being woke — in its original, uncorrupted form — is not something to fear. It’s something to aspire to. It means paying attention. It means caring about your neighbors, even when they don’t look or live like you. It means understanding that justice isn’t a zero-sum game. It means staying alert when people try to distract you with performative outrage while they rob you blind.
So, I say – Stay Woke, Stay Dangerous
The war on woke is a war on awareness. It’s a war on history, empathy, education, decency, and truth. And it’s being waged by people who know they’ve lost the moral argument — but still want to win the power game.
So when they scream about “woke mobs” and “liberal indoctrination,” remember what they’re really afraid of: You. – An awake, thinking, compassionate citizen who can’t be gaslit into voting against your own future.
So yeah — stay woke. Not because it’s trendy. But because you were never meant to fall asleep in the first place.