What is wokeism? Thanks for asking! 

The term “woke” took off in the United States in the 2010s. The past form of the verb “to wake” is used to imply an awakening to injustices inflicted upon minorities by an oppressive system.  

Woke activists call out systemic racism and police violence against groups like Black Lives Matter. Since then, it has become a go-to in public and media debates. Its critics say it has become a loaded term and those who use it often don’t understand the true meaning behind it. 

Even though its popularity is relatively recent, the origins go back further. As far back as 1860, there was a Wide Awake anti-slavery movement supporting Abraham Lincoln, who was running as a candidate in the presidential election of that year. Around a hundred years later, similar allusions could be found in the speeches of Martin Luther King. At Oberlin University, Ohio in June 1965, he urged young Americans to stay awake and be an engaged generation.

What do “woke” people stand for these days? Do you mean, over time, the term has come to encompass all these different causes? Is there a way to put an end to injustice? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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