WHAT DOES "WOKE" MEAN?

According to Merriam-Webster, woke,is the past tense and past participle of wake. It means to be aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice). 

The term has recently been used by some conservatives as an umbrella term for progressive values, often using it with negative connotations.

ABC News: The term, in one of its contemporary meanings, began to gain more popularity at the start of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The Ferguson, Missouri, protests that year spotlighted the social injustices and police brutality faced by the Black community following the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown.

Brown's death was shortly followed by the fatal police encounters of Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and others -- which continued the growing popularity of the phrase and its use in protest and activist circles for many years to come, according to research from Ohio State University on the rhetoric of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The term has since been co-opted by some Republicans as a pejorative term since last year's midterm elections to signify the identity-based social justice issues that some Democrats and progressives push for, representatives from the Democratic Governors Association and Working Families Party tell ABC News.

Wokeness generally refers to being socially and politically aware, particularly about issues related to inequality, discrimination, and social justice. It often involves advocating for marginalized groups and challenging oppressive systems.

Democratic Values

Democracy emphasizes political participation, equality, freedom of speech, and decision-making based on the will of the people. Core democratic values encourage diverse perspectives and respect for individual rights.

Pro-Democratic Aspects

• Inclusion and Equality: Wokeness aligns with democracy in promoting the rights of marginalized groups, which supports greater societal inclusion and fairness.
• Civic Engagement: Social justice movements inspired by wokeness encourage active participation in political processes, which strengthens democratic practices.
• Accountability: Wokeness often demands accountability from governments and institutions, a key principle of democracy.