By Peaches Calhoun

Just yesterday, I woke up to no coffee pods at my coffee station in my newly renovated white kitchen. No big deal I thought to myself, I’ll just have an egg and toast. As my search became pointless and it became obvious that these typical staples that were usually here were now missing, I exchanged my cozy bathrobe and cheetah print silk bonnet for a bulky winter coat and warm woven white hat. I grab my Keys, get into my automatically started warm vehicle, and make the trek to my favorite breakfast restaurant.

While walking from my car to what I thought was the entrance, I noticed that I was walking to the back of the establishment and had walked right past the front door. It was cold outside, so I scurried back to the front. As I reached for the cold metal handle, I saw the reflection of myself in the glass pane of the door. I had on a coat, a hat, my Christmas pj’s, no socks, and house slippers. It was obvious at that point that I wasn’t quite “woke” yet. What could I do at that point except laugh, have my hot cup of coffee, and enjoy my cage free eggs.

The definition of “woke” varies based on individual perspectives. Recently, some groups have used the term in a negative light to decadal, I thought to myself, I’ll just have an egg and toast. As my search became pointless and it became obvious that these typical staples that were usually here were now missing, I exchanged my cozy bathrobe and cheetah print silk bonnet for a bulky winter coat and warm woven white hat. I grab my Keys, get into my automatically started warm vehicle, and make the trek to my favorite breakfast restaurant. While walking from my car to what I thought was the entrance, I noticed that I was walking to the back of the establishment and had walked right past the front door. It was cold outside, so I scurried back to the front.

As I reached for the cold metal handle, I saw the reflection of myself in the glass pane of the door. I had on a coat, a hat, my Christmas pj’s, no socks, and house slippers. It was obvious at that point that I wasn’t quite “woke” yet. What could I do at that point except laugh, have my hot cup of coffee, and enjoy my cage-free egg scribe progressive values and find it no laughing matter. However, it originally emerged from the activism of Black Americans in the early to mid-1900s, particularly within racial justice movements.

To be “woke” in the political context of the Black community signifies being informed and aware of social injustices and racial inequalities, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. One of the earliest recorded uses of the term can be traced to the protest song “Scottsboro Boys” by Lead Belly in the 1930s. This song referenced the false accusations against nine Black teenagers in Alabama, urging awareness of potential racist violence. The term gained increased popularity during the Black Lives Matter movement, particularly following the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri, after the police shooting of Michael Brown.

This event, alongside other incidents of police brutality, furthered the use of “woke” within activist circles. In recent years, the term has been adopted by various political figures, sometimes as a pejorative to criticize identity-based social justice issues. Responses to “woke” ideology have emerged in policy changes at both state and national levels, including educational restrictions on race-related content. Debates surrounding “woke” have highlighted broader discussions on identity, social justice, and the role of education in addressing these topics, with differing viewpoints among various political and social groups.

The term “woke” dances on a spectrum of meanings, shifting like chameleons in the wild, depending on who is asked. In recent years, it has been embraced by some conservative voices as a blanket term to label progressive values, often laced with derogatory undertones. Yet, its roots lie deep within the historical soil of progressive Black American activism, flourishing in racial justice movements from the early to mid-1900s. To be “woke” in the political realm of the Black community signifies a state of heightened awareness—an educated consciousness attuned to the social injustices and rampant racial inequities that pervade society, as chronicled by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

One of the earliest echoes of this term can be traced to the melancholic strains of “Scottsboro Boys,” a poignant protest song by Lead Belly in the 1930s. This powerful ballad immortalizes the plight of nine Black teenagers who were falsely accused of a heinous crime in Alabama, urging their fellow Black Americans to remain vigilant against the lurking specter of racial violence. As the sun set on 2014, the term “woke” surged back into the spotlight, radiating new energies during the Black Lives Matter movement, ignited by protests in Ferguson, Missouri. The tragic police shooting of Michael Brown catalyzed a wave of activism, illuminating the deep-seated injustices and brutal realities faced by the Black community.

In the wake of this turmoil, the phrase blossomed, resonating through chants and rallies, embedding itself within the language of activism. In the political arena, “woke” has been seized upon by various figures, including prominent Republican candidates, who have wielded it as a pejorative to critique policies centered on social justice and identity. Consequently, this has sparked a cascade of legislative actions aimed at restricting discussions surrounding race and social equity in educational institutions across the nation. The discourse surrounding “woke” encapsulates a broader cultural clash, an ideological tug-of-war spiraling around identity, social justice, and the fundamental role of education in shaping an inclusive society.

As the debate intensifies, contrasting visions collide, leaving an indelible mark on the contemporary landscape of American societal dialogue. The rhetorical question becomes, when will America see its true reflection in the glass windowpane of the door of opportunity? Will we order and demand the nourishment we need to satisfy our hunger for equality, or will we sit down and be served whatever is placed on the plate before us, half awake and half asleep?

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