The woke movement simply promotes good ethics by advocating for social justice, equality, and inclusion. It seeks to raise awareness about systemic issues and inequalities that marginalize various groups. It also it encourages individuals to take accountability for their actions and beliefs. It challenges individuals to examine their privilege, biases, and assumptions. By promoting empathy, respect, and understanding, the woke movement aims to create a more just and equitable society for all. Ultimately, the woke movement represents a call to action for all individuals to engage in ethical and responsible behavior.
Critics of the woke movement often have ulterior motives rooted in prejudice, such as racism or classism. Anti-woke propaganda is often used as a grievance tool by those who fear losing their privilege or power, and is therefore disingenuous.
My well intentioned conservative friends sometimes say things like…
“I am a Republican (whatever the frick that means) but that does not mean I support everything they do.”
and…
“I don’t support this woke, cancel culture bullshit.”
These acquaintances were either raised in a Republican house, or later got swept up in the conservative movement. They are trapped within an information bubble and are incapable of evaluating information presented to them. They rely almost exclusively on the Appeal to Authority logical fallacy. If the information comes from a Republican, or a conservative outlet like Fox News, they tend to believe it. Some believe 100% of every word including conflicting information presented by the same person even when that person conflicts what they said in the same sentence. Others try to evaluate the information and only believe most of what they hear.
The Woke Movement
The conservative movement’s attack on the Woke Movement is a good example of taking a value all of my acquaintances have and twisting it. I say “all acquaintances” because I hope none of the people I spend time interacting with are true outright racists. I hope they value equality even if they are currently confused and feel like they have to be a bit racist in order to protect their own.
“Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It’s not pie.”
If you do not support the woke movement, I would encourage you to reconsider your position. At its core, being woke means showing empathy towards others and accepting differences. If you believe that being woke means something else, it’s important to recognize that the people who coined and use the term define it as such. It’s not right for anyone to redefine it to suit their own agenda. Claims made by some that critical race theory is a threat are baseless and untrue. It’s important to acknowledge and address wrongs rather than deny their existence based on personal beliefs.
