‘Woke’ is latest divisive label

Much has been written regarding the term “woke.” Some may understand it, while others don’t.

Woke is the vernacular derivative of the verb “to wake” and was used in urban language of the 1960s. Many Americans were “waking up” socially throughout that decade. The civil rights and peace marches alone were certainly an awakening. Many farright Republicans today would label President Lyndon Johnson a “wokester” for signing into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Think of what they would have called President Richard Nixon for establishing of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Today those on the left often use the term to try to shame anyone or any organization that isn’t socially enlightened, or to praise them if they are “woke.” It is commonly used by the right in a pejorative manner. In politics, woke is used by Florida’s Republican governor, Ron Desantis, to stir cultural skirmishes and promote division. He proudly states that, “Florida is where woke goes to die.”

As long as we have had a two-party system, we have had acrimonious disagreement over policies at the local, state and federal levels of government. Furthermore, many condemnatory political labels, initiated by both parties, have come and gone over the decades.

Nevertheless, the majority of Americans will continue to pursue truth, freedom, equality, justice, acceptance and fairness. And will remain unyielding in that pursuit because those democratic values and principles are what makes America great, woke or not.

Peter Mcmurran, Henderson