I won't. Nobody is able to define what "wokeness" really means to them because it's mostly code for "subset of people I don't want to exist around me".

Surprisingly, that doesn't sound very good when said out loud.

[–] moakley@lemmy.world 6 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

"Woke" has had a consistent meaning since its introduction into the English language almost a hundred years ago. It means "Aware of systemic racism."

When blues legend Lead Belly ended a show in 1938 by saying, "Stay woke," he meant: "Stay aware of systemic racism."

When some chud on YouTube in 2025 says "'Woke' is ruining gaming," he means that awareness of systemic racism is ruining gaming. For him.

And when an American politician calls himself "anti-woke", he's saying that he opposes the awareness of systemic racism. Not that he denies the existence of it, but that he'd prefer no one talk about it, so that it can continue.

[–] floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

When some chud on YouTube in 2025 says "'Woke' is ruining gaming," he means that awareness of systemic racism is ruining gaming. For him.

I don't think it even goes that far tbh. Especially for less political, more gamer-type "conservatives", it just means "the other side", forcing so many girls (1) into their game. Maybe it's just to deflect having to admit to being a misogynist.

And when an American politician calls himself "anti-woke", he's saying that he opposes the awareness of systemic racism. Not that he denies the existence of it, but that he'd prefer no one talk about it, so that it can continue.

Yes, exactly. No sane person would call themselves "anti-woke". Unless they're successful in subverting its meaning to be "those we'll put in concentration camps". Oh wait, that still wouldn't make you sane.

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