1Dime Radio We Still Don't Understand Wokeism (Ft. Musa Al-Gharbi)
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Dec 19, 2025 
Musa Al-Gharbi, an American sociologist and author of "We Have Never Been Woke," dives into empirical theories behind 'wokeness' and its societal implications. He defines 'symbolic capitalists' as elite players driving cultural change while most Americans remain static. Discussing the concept of elite overproduction, he highlights its connection to societal 'awokenings.' Al-Gharbi also critiques the political alignment across social classes and reveals how symbolic reforms often fail to address material needs, questioning the real impact of cultural shifts on everyday lives.
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Awokening Concentrated In Knowledge Professions
- Musa al-Gharbi shows measurable cultural change after 2010 was concentrated in knowledge professions, not across America.
- Most of the country stayed on long-term trajectories while symbolic capitalists shifted rapidly.
Who The Symbolic Capitalists Are
- Symbolic capitalists earn influence from what they know, who they know, and how they're known, shaping public narratives.
- They are distinct from mere wealth holders because they produce and mediate symbols and discourse.
Zoom Out Beyond The Top 1%
- Upper middle class plus millionaires hold the lion's share of wealth and shape opportunities, not just the top 1%.
- Ignoring the upper middle class misses how wealth and opportunity are hoarded and reproduced.