The Meaning of ‘Woke’

Abstract

It's been three years since bystander footage went viral of a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on a Black man's neck for more than nine minutes. The ensuing outrage and empathy surrounding George Floyd's death brought issues of systemic oppression and discrimination to the forefront of public consciousness, sparking conversations and debates regarding diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in society and the workplace.

"George Floyd's murder ushered in an era of awareness," says Theresa M. Robinson, a Houston-based author and DE&I coach. "More people now know what they had not known previously."

Police brutality, workplace discrimination and other offenses against historically marginalized communities have buoyed social movements—including Black Lives Matter and #MeToo—and have given rise to the concept of "wokeness," a slang term that has become a staple in the political lexicon.