May I Have a Word: The Misdefinition of Woke

What is your definition of woke? Seriously, how do you define woke? In recent conversations, I’ve heard the term used a pejorative. So, I ask people, “how do you define woke?” Sometimes I get, “you know what I mean,” but, typically, I get a blank stare, followed by a look of frustration. At this point, I offer the definition.

Woke was a term used by negroes to define our awareness of where we could and could not go. You may not be familiar with he term sundown towns where blacks were not allowed after sundown. There were restaurants that would refuse to serve us, stores that would charge us more because of the color of our skin. Hotels that would not admit us, water fountains we could not drink from. It’s a long list of things we could not do like try on clothes in stores and don’t even think about a return. We were not allowed at public pools.

For me, when I hear people say “all this woke nonsense” or “woke has gone to far,” my visceral reaction is, you feel you don’t want to treat all people with respect; you want segregation back. I’ll ask again, how do you define woke? My definition is one of survival, your usage is more indicative of a pejorative, a way to encapsulate an emotion and dismiss conversation and excuse actions.

If it were not for an incident last week, I’d happily skip over this, but I can’t pretend that what happened, did not happen. I went to a shop to get yoga clothes. I walked in and said good morning and the two blonde women at the cash wrap, looked up, gave no response and ignored me. As I turned to the right, someone else entered the store and they both said good morning. One said welcome in and the other, how can we help you today? Honestly I blanked out and went numb for a moment, it was my first time in the store, I needed help, and I was ready to burst into tears on the spot. I turned back to face the cash wrap and waited for the same acknowledged. The two women continued to ignore me to which was both a shock and a confirmation. A third store employee, a male, approaching the area asked if I needed help.

I was done in less than 10 minutes and out the door with a pair of yoga pants that had the best fit and feel. Now, to answer questions. Why did I stay? I had a gift card for $150; I could have turned around and walked out immediately because of the rude treatment and purchased on line, but I was unsure of size and fit. Why did I not mention anything? I would have in the past, but I was afraid this time. I feared the word “woke” being tossed out and used a pejorative; I feared dismissal as a woke marxist. I got the message when I walked in. We don’t welcome you here; we don’t treat you like we do European Americans. We don’t want to and we don’t have too.

The sad part, even now in my head, I know people will try to create a reason for my treatment, like I don’t look like a fitness person. I’m 5’6″, 115 pounds. Or maybe they saw gray hair and thought inactive? Since I said good morning upon entering and the store was empty the women at the cash warp saw me. So, let’s call it for what it is, racism. While some people can dismiss it as, not everyone is like that, please understand, that does not erase the indignity.

This week, consider what your definition of woke is. May I ask that if your definition is not one of awareness of racial segregation for black people, then you use the words of what your definition is rather than the word woke.