The war against woke is really a war against empathy

In this Brave New World of might over right, of supremacy over collaboration, the term “woke” has been bandied around with gay abandon (sorry, I meant to say supreme masculine abandon – forgot what timeline we were in for a moment).

Conservative politicians, their kindred spirits in the media, and that uncle on Facebook you always try to avoid at Christmas are seemingly in endless competition to see who can most ferociously and numerously denounce woke.

If I had 5¢ every time I heard or saw an attack on woke in the past week, well, I’d probably have about $7.85. If limited to commentators who knew what the word actually meant, I’d be lucky to have 35¢.

Peter Dutton and Donald Trump have both run unapologetic “anti-woke” campaigns.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, AP

Woke wasn’t always a pejorative, of course.

Before George Floyd’s horrific murder, it had long been in use among the African-American community – “stay woke” meant, essentially, “stay alert to systemic injustice”. The kind of systemic injustice, for example, that might lead to you gasping for air with a police officer’s knee to your throat.

Following Floyd’s death, it gained global ascendancy through the Black Lives Matter movement.

George Floyd’s death at the hands of a policeman in 2020 increased pressure on companies to introduce diversity, equity and inclusion policies, which conservatives have moved to repeal.Credit: Brian Peterson

Since then, the meaning has shifted. Some in the cultural and political right seized on the word – much as they did “political correctness” – to use it as a catch-all for any policy or movement that did not align with their worldview.

As a branding exercise, it was genius. Any time “woke” passes through sneering lips at a media conference, or appears in the op-ed pages, you know it’s some conservative – or regressive – voice intent on maintaining their privileged status in society.

Political leaders such as Donald Trump and Peter Dutton call out woke like Joseph McCarthy once called out communists – it’s a vibe thing.

And not a day goes by without frothing social media comments in response to even the most innocuous posts – “so sick of this woke crap!” etc etc.

I imagine you’ll see it in response to this piece, too.

But what, exactly, is woke these days? It seems to be any policy, activity or movement with even a hint of empathy at its core.

Welcome to Country ceremonies, which can have the added benefit of reminding people of our nation’s (ahem) complicated history, have been described as “divisive and woke ceremonial practices with no meaning”.

An acknowledgment of First Nations people prior to an event? That’s woke. A rainbow flag outside a business? That’s woke. Giving the disadvantaged a leg up? That’s woke.

Not adequately celebrating Australia Day? That’s woke. Recognising that particular national holiday may not be a cause for celebration for all Australians? Woke.

Diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) programs? Woke.

To a degree, I get it. Change is hard. I’ve been known to struggle with the “they/them” pronouns – not through any issue with trans people, but rather with the words’ plural nature (just how many of them are there?).

But if adjusting my language can make life a little easier for someone already having to navigate so much, I’m happy to oblige (even if I wish they – in the traditional plural sense of “they” – adopted a new word).

Of late, though, the right’s mask has been coming off.

Despite serving as a US senator and attorney-general, Kamala Harris was labelled a DEI hire when she became the nation’s vice president.Credit: AP

Never was that more obvious than when an eminently qualified black, lesbian fire chief in Los Angeles came under attack as a “DEI hire”. Even Kamala Harris was ludicrously described as the “DEI vice president”.

Woke has become the right’s word du jour, in part because, even in the age of Donald Trump, the N-word is still frowned upon.

I’ve never really considered myself woke – in fact, I find usage of the word a little stupid. But if its accepted new definition is embracing, seeking and fighting for empathy and fairness – across race, gender, sexuality and culture – count me in.

At a time when the most vulnerable are increasingly targeted, a little empathy and understanding has never been more important.

And if you’re offended by that, you’re not “anti-woke”, you’re just a jerk.

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