Woke Culture Essay Example

The term “woke” is a colloquial term increasingly used in the media to describe those among us who are considered to have arisen from the “societal slumber” in which the majority oppressed the minority. The “nightmare” in which racism is appropriate, homosexuality is a disease, and other pseudoscientific ideas such as gender and creed superiority, are deemed to be factual. To be reliable enough to kill for, to enslave and persecute those deemed to be “lesser”.   

In today’s world, encouraged by the “woke” movement, it has become the social norm to embrace our differences, to break through the metaphorical “shackles” of society, to defy the “archaic” ideas of what is acceptable, to become the “real you”. Unapologetically proud to be different. To place our differences on a pedestal for all to see. 

Systemic racism has been abolished, religious crusades are a thing of the past and those who identify as homosexuals, trans and any other sexual orientation have found a home in the loving, accepting arms of the LGBTG+ community.  Those who were previously deemed the dreg of society, societal outcasts are now viewed as “brave warriors” revered, cherished and adored for their triumphant victories over the “archaic” morals and ideas that have repressed society for eons. 

However, in recent years the “woke” movement has strayed from its root ideologies, that one must accept everyone for who they are, and respect their opinions, to grant others a chance to learn, adapt and change for the better. In recent years we have seen the self-proclaimed “woke” among us, continue to exhibit the very behavior they swore to abolish, to continue to follow the persecutory trends of their predecessors. They have embarked on their own crusade. However, this crusade is different to all the others in history.  The victimizers walk among us, they run our governments, and most are only identifiable by a pseudonym, a social media “handle” created to disguise their identity. 

This millennial crusade has a suitably millennial name, the “cancel culture”. Its crusaders target those they deem to be “slumberous”, those who don’t seem to follow the new norm of acceptance, who have opposing ideas about religion, science, and society. Those part of the culture, appoint themselves to be judge, jury and executioner, ruining the careers, tarnishing reputations, and destroying lives without giving the “perpetrators” a chance to defend themselves in the way a true libertarian society demands. They have fallen back into the same restless slumber of their ancestors plagued by “nightmares” of isolating others and victimizing them is acceptable. 

The idea of being “woke” despite the reputation that its recent adopters have given it is intrinsically a brilliant one. It is imperative to our evolution as a society that we are constantly awake, assessing the validity of our morals and making corrections where necessary. However, in order to be truly “awake” we must first open our eyes and ears, listen to what others are saying, see things from their perspective, explain our own ideas and at all times respect others despite the fact that their opinions might differ from our own.