I’ve been thinking about “woke.”

It was bound to happen eventually, I guess.

I’ve been thinking about Republican and/or fascist strategies. And about how the strategies themselves are a form of communication. My wondering led me to confront my feelings about “woke.” I’ll be honest; I’ve avoided using the term or taking it seriously, in any way, for years now. I find it… well, annoying. But that’s just me.

I was not going to jump in front of a discursive bus to defend “woke.”

Now, though… well, I’m still not going to do that. LOL. However, I’m willing to acknowledge that people who mean to harm us are telling on themselves when they try to use “woke” as a slur.

First of all, it’s absolutely their attempt to workaround the n-word. Same with “DEI” probably.

But what I find more interesting to consider what “woke” actually means and why they are so alarmed by “woke” people and politics and art.

The way I see it “woke” combines the experience of having an awakening (“something or someone woke me up”) with the alertness that follows (“I can’t or won’t go back to sleep; I’m awake now.”) In that way, “woke” is an incredible concept, right? It’s about having a transformation and then changing one’s posture in response. Knowing what I know now, I’ve got to be on the lookout for myself and others. Ain’t no going back.

It’s about care for one self and other. “I’ve got your 6; do you have mine?”

Republican and/or fascist politics are stagnant politics, zombie politics, deadened and deadening politics. They don’t want us awake or well or alive.

Republicans rightly think of our earned alertness as a threat to their plans. And as is so often the case with that crowd, whatever they are threatened by is likely something we probably should cherish, protect and celebrate. Or at least, consider.