
So, two things First, I was not talking about the AAVE meaning of “woke,” which yes I was aware of. The reason I wasn’t talking about it is because no one uses it like that anymore (especially not white people) and because I was specifically referring to its use as a pejorative. I thought I was pretty clear on that, but if not, I apologize.
Second, the second definition is pretty vague, and rather explicitly anti-queer (because it’s used as a negative descriptor). And it’s being used on this forum (and elsewhere on the queer internet) not to reclaim the word, but to reinforce the idea that it’s a bad thing to be “woke.”
Alright. So, the original, AAVE, version of “woke” is exclusively about racial discrimination and justice. In that definition, queer issues are not included at all, they’re a nonsequitor, unrelated. Yet, in the modern, pejorative version, queer visibility is the primary example of “woke.” Whenever you apply “woke” to describe anything other than racial issues, you are using the definition that was minted by bigots for their usage.
If you want to use “woke,” use it in either the original meaning, or use it in “reclaiming” way. This post is, and I think I’ve been quite clear on this, about people who are uncritically using the language of conservatives, to further normalize conservatism through that language.
Not “the” reclaiming way, A “reclaiming” way (my bad on that, missed a word when I was typing). And honestly I don’t what a reclamation of the word “woke” looks like in the Trump era. It can be done (see the word “queer” as an example, and… arguably the f slur and the d slur, but idk if we’re there yet). But calling someone “too woke” or generally using it pejoratively isn’t reclamation, but reinforcements
So your problem isn’t with people using the word woke, it’s just the way some people use it? I think we’re on the same page here then Obviously using any word as an insult is a bad thing lol, not everyone who says the word woke is calling things “too woke” or using it as an insult
I don’t really think we are on the same page, because I think you’re acting as if the word “woke” is free of connotation; it isn’t. The word has been thoroughly incorporated into the right-wing project of antiprogressivism, and I think that parroting that language, even if you don’t intend it in the same way they do, is furthering their agenda by legitimizing their language and worldview.