#WokeWorksForAll
Do white people need to stop using the term 'woke'? | The Tylt
Do white people need to stop using the term 'woke'?
The term "woke" has been part of African-American vernacular for decades, and refers specifically to political consciousness of Black oppression and liberation. But many say its pro-Black political meaning has been diluted by mainstream misinterpretation and mocking, or clueless usage by white people. Others point out that language evolves and woke is "not the first AAVE word to be taken up by the greater public...and it certainly won't be the last," as Bustle's Maddy Foley points out. What do you think?
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Do white people need to stop using the term 'woke'?
#StopRuiningWoke
Though among African Americans "woke" has been used for decades to describe being conscious of social systems of Black oppression, many argue that it's been appropriated by non-Black people. Like "social justice warrior," some white people use it sarcastically to ridicule people who are advocating against racism. Others use it with zero awareness of its origins or history. Is it an attempt at "performative Blackness"? Maybe white people could just pick another word?
Others argue that in the age of President Trump and #MeToo, "woke" has expanded to encompass all kinds of civil rights struggles, not just racial ones. Language changes and evolves. And others are perfectly comfortable using the term to describe non-Black folks, as long as they are demonstrating genuine allyship and trying to have a clue.
