It’s been one of those weeks on social media, when you see something that stays with you. This time, I was celebrating the words of Ashley James on ITV’s This Morning. She aptly explained the dangerous power of the media in stoking division, creating culture wars and fanning the flames of the “war on woke”.
You’ve probably seen this video doing the rounds, but if you haven’t take a minute to watch this short clip. (Feel free to high-five the air like I did when you watch it too!)
Watch Ashley James explain the importance of inclusive language and the danger of the media stirring us culture wars.
Some of you may have been in Ashley’s shoes. Have you found yourself in an uncomfortable debate with someone who confidently feels that the “world has gone mad” with all this “political correctness” from the “snowflake generation.” I know I have. And I wish I’d had Ashley’s fluency and poise in each for every one of those situations.
Who could argue with the fact that inclusive language is a good thing?
Or that it’s ironic that those so quick to criticise the “snowflake” generation are so quick to melt-down about words that aren’t even intended for them?
Or feel that being “woke” is wrong, when they realise that it’s about being aware of the injustices in society?
I know that there are systems of oppression hidden in plain sight all around us. I’m committed to learning about them, so I describe myself as “woke”. Let’s explore the word a little bit more……
Woke – what does it really mean?
1923 – The term “woke” has its origins in anti-racism. In 1923, the famous activist Marcus Garvey made a powerful speech that included the phrase “Wake up Africa!”
1940 – The specific term “woke” was used in an American miners’ strike regarding the pay disparity between white and Black workers. A Union leader declared that “we were asleep. But we will stay woke from now on.”
1960s – “Woke” was common parlance in the civil rights movement in America, and remained very much associated with anti-racism.
2008 – “Woke” made a come back thanks to Erykah Badu’s song, “Master Teacher”. We hear the term “stay woke” regularly nowadays. The lyrics of this song first coined the phrase.
2010s – “Woke” becomes more inclusive and by the 2010s, is a term used to describe education and awareness of social injustice for all. This includes ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ and disabled people.
2022 – At a time when the Black Lives Matter protests re-surfaced just two years previously, and the world saw a surge of people campaigning for diversity and equality, we started to the see the “anti-woke” rhetoric. In America, Florida Governor Ron Desantis declared “Stop Woke” in law. Meanwhile, here in the UK, Rishi Sunak said that he would review the equality act to remove the “woke nonsense… permeating public life.”
2024 – and so it continues. Thankfully, for every person who doesn’t believe in “woke nonsense”, there’s someone like me, staying woke and striving to level out some of the injustices of the world.(And like Ashley James, who’s flying the flag for all of us this week!)
This is a quick snapshot, and a glimpse into my thoughts on the subject. If you’d like to find out more, there’s an interesting series on Radio 4 with Matthew Syed – each episode is about 15 mins long, so it’s a good one for bitesize learning.
As always, thanks for reading. Stay woke!
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