Woke is an adjective derived from African-American vernacular, meaning alert to racial prejudice and discrimination. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, woke means to be aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice). In reviewing the Thesaurus, synonyms include: enlightened, multiculturally sensitive: On the other hand, antonyms include: unaware of injustices, lulled, hypnotized, mesmerized. Criticizing “woke culture” has become a way of claiming victim status for oneself. I, for one, am pleased to state that I am “woke,” indicating that I believe that I am enlightened and have not been mesmerized and hypnotized by the right wing media and can be sensitive to the injustices that exist in our society.

Harry Senekjian

Ogden

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