AI Summary

The text argues that “woke” may be losing its usefulness as a political and cultural term, much like older political labels that eventually faded or changed meaning.

Main points

“Woke” has become difficult to define. The author argues that after years of debate over what “woke” means, the word has become so overloaded that it may no longer clearly communicate anything.

“Woke 1.0” refers to the progressive culture of roughly 2016–2024. The author describes a period when ideas and practices such as privilege-checking, pronoun etiquette, and land acknowledgments became increasingly mainstream, particularly around 2020, before provoking a strong backlash.

The term is much older than its recent political meaning. “Stay woke” appeared in Black American culture at least as early as the 1920s, originally carrying the sense of staying alert and protecting oneself from injustice or danger. Lead Belly used the phrase in 1938.

Both conservatives and liberals have used “woke” negatively. Republicans increasingly use it as a criticism of progressive positions, while people on the left have also used it to mock what they see as superficial, online-focused, or performative progressive politics.

“Woke” was never really a movement's official name. Unlike labels attached to organized political groups, few people have openly identified themselves as “woke.” The word has primarily been an external label, often used by critics.

Political labels can eventually lose their political meaning. The author compares “woke” with historical terms such as “barnburner,” “scalawag,” and “mugwump.” These words once had specific political meanings but eventually became ordinary words or largely disappeared from common political usage.

The future meaning of “woke” is uncertain. It might eventually mean being informed, fashionable, naive, sanctimonious, or simply alert and aware. Its political meaning could eventually become an obscure historical footnote.

Bottom line

The central argument is that “woke” may be approaching the end of its life as a precise political label. Its current meaning is contested and increasingly detached from its original meaning, and history suggests that politically charged words can eventually be repurposed, diluted, or forgotten.