Wokeness is a highly charged topic with varying opinions that often distract from the actual data. While mainstream narratives focus on extreme behaviors, it is crucial to analyze the prevalence and context of wokeness over time to assess the validity of those narratives. Specific examples, such as a dinner hosted by two women of color for paying white women to discuss racism, illustrate the performative aspects of wokeness. This highlights a tendency among certain liberal individuals to engage in actions that may prioritize outward appearances over genuine understanding.
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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