Today, Explained
Woke, woke, woke, woke, woke
Jun 27, 2023
Ested Herndon, host of The Run-Up podcast at The New York Times, dives into the political implications of the term 'woke' in the 2024 Republican primary. Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Deputy Director at Refinery29, shares insights into the word's evolution from its roots with leaders like Marcus Garvey to its current polarizing use. They discuss how anti-woke rhetoric is shaping campaigns and explore the cultural significance of 'woke' in music and media, emphasizing its dual role in advocating social consciousness and provoking humor.
25:59
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Quick takeaways
- The term 'woke' is being used by Republican candidates in the 2024 primary to invalidate the Democratic Party and its progressive values, targeting social justice and racial equity rhetoric.
- While wokeness is a prominent feature of the Republican Party, there is no evidence of it having a mass motivating effect in general elections and Republican voters may eventually grow tired of its use as a political boogeyman.
Deep dives
The Use of 'Woke' as a Political Tool
In the 2024 Republican primary, many candidates are using the term 'woke' as a catch-all to invalidate the Democratic Party and its progressive values. They argue that being 'woke' represents an encroachment on the cultural values of everyday Americans. This tactic is aimed at embodying the frustration of conservative voters and targeting the perceived excesses of social justice and racial equity rhetoric.
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