Woke is a slang term that has made its way into the mainstream from some varieties of African American English. In AAE, awake is often rendered as woke, as in, “I was sleeping, but now I’m woke.” Woke is an adjective derived from African-American English used since the 1930s or earlier to refer to awareness of racial prejudice and discrimination, often in the construction stay woke. Originally, woke came from Black American vernacular and meant exactly what it sounds like: being awake.

Context Explanation

As in, aware. Paying attention. Specifically, being conscious of racial injustice and the... It was first used by Pan-African activist Marcus Garvey as early as 1923.

Insight Material

"Woke" was meant to acknowledge the struggles of African Americans and was a word of empowerment for some Black people. Conservatives are using ‘woke,’ a term coined by Black Americans, against progressive ideals of social justice during this midterm election cycle. “Woke” originally arose in early 20th-century Black American culture to stay aware of racism, whether it takes form in bold statements or microaggressions, encouraging people to stand up for themselves and never let discrimination pass by easily. When a practice is identified as “woke,” there is an implication that the non-woke practice is better or at least equally good. You Hear It All the Time, But What Does “Woke” Actually Mean?

Final Conclusion