Woke is an adjective derived from African-American English used since the 1930s or earlier to refer to awareness of racial prejudice and discrimination, often in the construction stay woke. The term …

Jan 5, 2026 · What People Use It for Today As woke entered the mainstream, its meaning started to stretch. What had once been a term rooted in Black experience and social awareness became a …

May 19, 2025 · Woke is a slang term that has made its way into the mainstream from some varieties of African American English. In AAE, awake is often rendered as woke, as in, “I was sleeping, but now …

Originally rooted in Black activism and social justice movements, the term “woke” has evolved over the decades as culture, politics, and media gradually reshaped its meaning into a symbol of both justice …

Jul 19, 2023 · One word has become unavoidable on the campaign trail — woke. But what does it really mean and where does it come from? The word has a long and serious history in Black culture.

1 day ago · Why everyone’s fighting over a word nobody agrees on Okay, so you’ve probably heard “woke” thrown around about a million times, right? It’s in political debates, online arguments, your …

“Woke” originally arose in early 20th-century Black American culture to stay aware of racism, whether it takes form in bold statements or microaggressions, encouraging people to stand up for themselves …

Sep 30, 2025 · The term “woke” originated in Black culture as awareness about racism and injustice, with roots traced to Marcus Garvey in 1923. Artists like Erykah Badu revived the term in the 2000s, …

May 23, 2024 · The "woke" movement is associated with a political drive for racial justice, but has faced backlash, including efforts to suppress speech about racism.

Apr 25, 2025 · The word woke has become a familiar part of political discourse especially over the last few years. Once used to describe awareness of social injustice, it is now often used as a negative …