"The term 'woke' originated from African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and has its roots in African American culture. While the exact origin of the term is difficult to pinpoint, it gained popularity and entered mainstream usage in the early 2010s. The word 'woke' is derived from the African American phrase 'stay woke,' which means to be aware, knowledgeable, and socially conscious, particularly about issues of racial and social justice. The phrase can be traced back to African American communities, where it was used as a call to remain vigilant and awake to the systemic injustices and inequalities faced by marginalized groups. Over time, the term 'woke' spread beyond its original cultural context and entered mainstream conversations, especially through social media platforms. It has come to symbolize an individual's awareness and activism regarding various social issues, including racism, discrimination, and inequality. Being 'woke' implies being informed and actively engaged in promoting social justice and challenging systemic biases. The term has evolved and been used in different ways, and its meaning can vary depending on the context and the individuals using it. It has been embraced by some as a way to promote awareness and progress, while others have criticized its usage as performative or lacking in substantive action. It is worth noting that the term 'woke' has faced some criticism and backlash, with detractors arguing that it is overused or misused, and that it has become more of a trend or buzzword than a meaningful indicator of genuine activism. Nonetheless, the word 'woke' remains a significant part of contemporary discourse around social justice and awareness." #TheoryLinguisticsSocioAfricanAmericanVernacularEnglishAAVE #TheoryLinguisticsSemanticShift #TheorySociologySocialJustice

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Supplementary #MagazineUSTheAtlanticYaschaMounk "Right-wing polemicists deride these ideas as a form of 'cultural Marxism,' which has substituted identity categories such as race for the economic category of class but still aims at the same old goal of communist revolution. They invoke wokeness to oppose anything they dislike, such as sex ed and insufficiently patriotic versions of American history. On the other side, many people in media and politics claim that wokeness is simply a matter of justice and decency: a willingness to acknowledge the cruelties of America's past and a recognition of the ways they still shape the country. 'Being woke,' Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman who became a vocal critic of Donald Trump, has said, 'just means being empathetic'" (26 September 2023). ^{[digital archives]} #ConspiracyTheory_CulturalMarxism #OrgClassifPPUSRepublicanPartyGOPJoeWalsh ^[Wikipedia]