A breakfast cafe owner unknowingly names her establishment using a term now synonymous with political controversy, highlighting the disconnect between intentions and interpretations in today's social climate. The backlash from local conservatives illustrates how language can evoke strong reactions and reflect deeper societal divides. Despite initial outrage, community support allows the cafe to thrive in a polarized environment. As the concept of wokeness has peaked and receded in America, understanding its evolution is crucial. The decline in wokeness suggests a shifting political landscape, raising questions about future discourse and engagement within society. This scenario serves as a microcosm of broader tensions regarding identity, expression, and the implications of terminology in political and social contexts.
Over the past decade a form of wokeness arose on the illiberal left, characterised by extreme pessimism about America and its capacity to make progress. Analysis by The Economist of how influential these ideas are today finds that wokeness peaked in 2021-22 and has since receded. Why is America becoming less “woke”?
John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s Ainslie Johnstone and Sacha Nauta, and Professor Musa al-Gharbi of Stony Brook University.
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