stay woke!

Erykah Badu - Stay Woke

I'm so sick of you Racist Mofos misrepresenting Black Culture and the meaning of "OUR TERM, STAY WOKE". See, the problems is White Nationalists, Donald Trump and MAGA, and Racist Conservatives want you do believe that "STAY WOKE" is some radical movement when in actuality it's a call to awareness and knowledge.

The term "woke," meaning aware of and actively attentive to important societal issues, especially those of racial and social justice, originated within the Black community in the early to mid-20th century. It gained more widespread use in the mid-2010s, particularly within the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and has since become a more broadly used term, though often with negative connotations.

Here's a more detailed look at the term's origins and evolution:

Early Usage:

The term "woke" in the context of social awareness has roots in Black American culture, dating back to the early to mid-1900s. It was used to express a need to be aware of racial injustice and potential threats, particularly in the face of white supremacist violence and Jim Crow laws.

Lead Belly and the 1930s:

Folk singer Huddie Ledbetter, also known as Lead Belly, used the phrase "stay woke" in his 1938 song "Scottsboro Boys," urging listeners to be careful and aware of their surroundings in Alabama.

William Melvin Kelley and the 1960s:

In 1962, William Melvin Kelley used the phrase "If You're Woke You Dig It" in a New York Times article, highlighting the appropriation of Black slang by white individuals and the potential for misinterpretation of the original meaning.

Erykah Badu and the 2000s:

The term "woke" gained more traction in the late 2000s, particularly with Erykah Badu's song "Master Teacher," which featured the refrain "I stay woke".

Black Lives Matter and Mainstream Use:

The term became increasingly mainstream with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in the 2010s, often used to express awareness of racial injustice and systemic inequality.

Weaponization and Controversy:

In recent years, the term "woke" has been adopted and weaponized by some conservatives (Racist White People) to criticize progressive values and social justice movements. This has led to a semantic shift, with some viewing the term as a negative or even a slur.

STAY WOKE Y'ALL!