The sense of entitlement of woke people is a stunning lack of grace.
And all they talk about is other people's insensitivity.
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ArishMell · 70-79, M
Might be worth reminding ourselves what "woke" really means, by its etymology.
It is a slang contraction of "awoke", in the sense of being awakened, and to injustice and oppression.
It was coined by Afro-Americans in the 1930s and first appeared traceably in a blues song after a group of black youths were wrongly accused and convicted of raping a white woman. They were later freed, not least because the woman spoke up for their being innocent.
It appears to have become a term of American political slanging-matches generally only within the last few years, and to become merely abuse meaning only what its user wants it to mean - if anything at all.
It is a slang contraction of "awoke", in the sense of being awakened, and to injustice and oppression.
It was coined by Afro-Americans in the 1930s and first appeared traceably in a blues song after a group of black youths were wrongly accused and convicted of raping a white woman. They were later freed, not least because the woman spoke up for their being innocent.
It appears to have become a term of American political slanging-matches generally only within the last few years, and to become merely abuse meaning only what its user wants it to mean - if anything at all.
Guitarman123 · 31-35, M
@ArishMell truer words couldn't be spoken
Thinkerbell · 41-45, F
SamInAZ · 41-45, M
@ArishMell It's not from the 1930's, "Woke" has always been a part of African American Vernacular English(AAVE)..it is a grammatical error in plain english, it means to awaken. The political use of the term really comes from the late '60's-early '70's & didn't really catch on until recently in common usage. Like most of AAVE, it's just english with poor grammar & syntax.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@SamInAZ Even older than the 30s then? A song, I think it was said by Leadbelly, is the first actually recorded use.
I said it is from "awaken" and slang, but perhaps the poor grammar reflected the standard of education given to those who coined it 90 or more years ago.
I don't recall ever hearing it used in the 1970s but it certainly became prominent in the last few years, when it also crossed the Atlantic to be used probably even further removed from its own reality.
I said it is from "awaken" and slang, but perhaps the poor grammar reflected the standard of education given to those who coined it 90 or more years ago.
I don't recall ever hearing it used in the 1970s but it certainly became prominent in the last few years, when it also crossed the Atlantic to be used probably even further removed from its own reality.
SamInAZ · 41-45, M
@ArishMell it was becoming more popular in left-wing radical academic circles within the universities in the 70's. With theorist types. But yeah, it originates from Ebonics a.k.a AAVE, which is basically just a southern dialect, rural whites in the South have used woke instead of awake for a long time too.