Woke: Discussing what it means and how it is used

Terry Faust

For people to agree on what a word or phrase means before they discuss a topic seems like common sense and a necessary step in clear communication. However, as Ira Gershwin wrote for the character Sportin' Life in Porgy and Bess, "It ain't necessarily so." I've heard more than one politician use words or catchphrases that have entered common parlance without any clear definition. Where points of view conflict, this can be a real problem. Take the word "woke," for example. It is an adjective; a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. The Merriam-Webster dictionary gives two definitions. Both are attributed to US slang, so we Americans own it. The first definition even has an a. and b. part and reads as follows:

The first definition:
"1. a. Chiefly US slang: aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice), often used in contexts that suggest someone's expressed beliefs about such matters are not backed with genuine concern or action. b. Chiefly US slang: reflecting the attitudes of woke people."

The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides several quotes from notable people as examples for both the first and second definitions. It also traces the origin of the word "woke." "Woke developed in African American English and has been used to describe a state of active attentiveness to issues of racial and social justice since the mid-late 20th century." I did an online search and found a bit more detailed attribution reading: "Blues musician Lead Belly famously used the phrase 'stay woke' in 1938 to warn Black people about racial dangers." And "For decades, it meant staying educated and conscious of hidden racial prejudice and unfair treatment."

The second definition:
"2. Chiefly US slang, disapproving (of ideas) politically liberal or progressive (as in matters of racial and social justice) especially in a way that is considered unreasonable or extreme."

So, for folks using the first definition of "woke," their concerns are geared to issues of racial and social justice and being educated and conscious of racial prejudice and unfair treatment. When the second definition is used in a "disapproving" way, it labels the "woke" person or thing as being unreasonable or extreme. If a person uses it in the sense of the second definition, they rarely explain why they disapprove of anyone being "woke." They simply disapprove. For someone who understands and accepts the first definition, this suggests the speaker isn't interested in being educated about or conscious of racial prejudice, unfair treatment, or social justice. The speaker implies that being "woke" is simply "unreasonable or extreme" without defining what exactly they find "unreasonable or extreme." In other words, their reason for disapproving of being "woke" ignores the racial and social justice issues attached to the first definition.

It is a way of avoiding the issues.

Next time you hear a speaker use the word "woke," ask yourself if they provided a basic definition, at least one clear sentence about what the word means to them, and if it's used in a disapproving way, why the "woke" subject is unreasonable or extreme.

Do they have a concrete example for why they disapprove of something or someone being "woke?" These questions can cut through misunderstanding and clarify a speaker's intent, helping you to judge if the speaker is addressing you in good faith.

Longfellow resident Terry Faust is a photographer and writer of urban fantasy, speculative fiction and radio plays. He also fashions Wee Weather Vanes, and invents games, computer aids and bicycle-related products.