Being ‘woke’

 

Being ‘woke’

                                        Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

What does ‘woke’ mean, now that it is not solely the past tense of ‘wake’?

Merriam-Webster says, ‘aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice) and identified as U.S. slang. It originated in African American English and gained more widespread use beginning in 2014 as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. By the end of that same decade it was also being applied by some as a general pejorative for anyone who is or appears to be politically left-leaning.’

The OED defines it thus: 'woke, adjective: Originally: well-informed, up-to-date. Now chiefly: alert to racial or social discrimination and injustice; frequently in stay woke.’  

What was the OED thinking in that final phrase ’frequently in stay woke’? It makes no sense! The addition of 'used' between the first and second words might help!

‘In the current climate’ – (how I hate that phrase!) - we are obliged to turn somersaults and trip over our tongues to be ‘inclusive’ at all times. With that in mind, I offer the following thought:-

‘Man’ should be replaced by ‘person’ to avoid embarrassment, misgendering, offence. Chairman has been chairperson for many a long year, but let’s take further steps.

Just a quick list – I’m sure you can think of more.

Manacles - personacles

Manchester is now Personchester and the Manager of Manchester United (or City) is now the Personager of Personchester United (or City)

mandatory – persondatory

mandibles – persondibles

manhood – personhood

manicure -personicure

manifold – personifold

Manitoba – Personitoba

mankind - personkind

‘Mansfield Park’ by Jane Austen is now ‘Personsfield Park’

manta ray – personta ray

mantra -persontra

manufacture – personufacture

manuscript – personuscript