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.

Jan 5, 2026 · You have heard the word “woke” before. Perhaps out of the mouth of a particularly vocal politician, or from your younger cousin. But for a word that gets tossed around constantly, it’s ...

Mar 7, 2023 · “Woke” began in Black vernacular as a warning to be wary of racism. It was adopted by liberal social justice advocates during the Black Lives Matter and Me Too movements in 2020.

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 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 …

Sep 30, 2025 · Academy Award-winning actor and activist Jane Fonda brought up being “woke” while receiving the Screen Actors Guild lifetime achievement award in front of an A-list audience.

The expression ‘stay woke’ started out as an affirmation for African Americans. In the past decade it has been used by Republicans — and some Democrats — as a pejorative for people thought to be too …

Mar 4, 2025 · The definition of "woke" changes depending on who you ask. The term has recently been used by some conservatives as an umbrella term for progressive values, often using it with negative …

Jan 31, 2025 · What is the definition and origin of 'woke'? The term "woke" used to have a different meaning. It was first used by Pan-African activist Marcus Garvey as early as 1923. "Woke" was …

Mar 9, 2023 · What does being woke mean? Among conservative lawmakers and activists "woke" tends to be an across-the-board denunciation of progressive values and liberal initiatives.