Making Sense with Sam Harris #452 — Is Wokeness Finally Dead?
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Jan 7, 2026 
In this fascinating conversation, linguist and cultural commentator John McWhorter delves into the waning influence of wokeness across academia and the arts. He argues that while the peak of woke ideology may have passed, its practices still persist under various guises, especially in hiring and training. They explore how social media fuels moral panic, the implications of identity in debates over Israel-Palestine, and McWhorter's reflections on the missteps following George Floyd's death. He emphasizes the need for ongoing dialogue amid the confusion surrounding race and ideology.
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Woke Ideas Took Root In Institutions
- John McWhorter argues that 'woke' ideology became institutionalized in academia and arts through perceived authority and transmission.
- He warns that those attitudes among faculty will persist and shape hiring and curricula long after public attention fades.
DEI Will Rebrand, Not Vanish
- McWhorter predicts DEI efforts will go underground or be renamed rather than disappear.
- He equates DEI with a new packaging of longstanding affirmative-action practices that will persist under different labels.
Music Theory Debates At Columbia
- McWhorter recounts teaching music humanities and following debates in musicology about Philip Ewell's claim that music theory is racist.
- He calls the claim absurd but notes it gained traction and affected curricular conversations.
