What this guide is about
This guide explains where the word woke comes from, what it means, how people use it today, and why the way we use it can help or hurt others.
It helps everyone young people, adults, employers, employees, and community members understand what they can do to make sure language is used fairly and kindly.
1. What does “woke” mean?
- The word woke comes from African American English in the United States.
- It started from the word awake, meaning being alert or aware.
- In this context, woke means being aware of unfairness, discrimination, or injustice in society.
- It means noticing how people are treated because of their race, gender, disability, class, or identity.
Example:
Someone who is woke sees that racism or sexism exist, and wants to do something about it.
2. Where did the word come from?
- The word was used by Black communities in the early 1900s in the United States.
- A singer called Lead Belly used it in 1938 when he said, “stay woke,” meaning “stay alert” in a dangerous, unfair world.
- It became popular again in the 1960s and 1970s when people were fighting for civil rights.
- In the 2000s, artists and activists began using woke again to talk about being aware of injustice.
- Around 2014, woke became linked to the Black Lives Matter movement.
- By 2017, dictionaries described woke as “being alert to social and racial injustice.”
3. How people used to use the word
- In the beginning, woke was about being proud, aware, and ready to take action for fairness.
- It was positive – it meant you cared about justice.
- Black communities used it to talk about staying aware of racism and oppression.
4. How people use it now
- Over time, the meaning has changed.
- Some people still use woke to mean being aware and fair.
- But others use it as an insult or joke.
- Some newspapers and politicians use “woke” to criticise people who talk about fairness or inclusion.
- People may say “too woke” to make fun of those who care about equality.
- Because of this, the word has lost some of its original power and truth.
5. How “woke” is used in Britain
- The word started in America but is now used across the UK.
- Many British people hear the word woke in news, workplaces, schools, and politics.
- Some people use it negatively to attack equality or diversity work.
- A survey showed that 73% of people who use the word woke in the UK use it negatively.
- Only 11% use it as a good or positive word.
- This shows how the word has become harmful and misunderstood.
6. Why this matters for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
When people use woke as an insult, it causes harm.
It can lead to:
- Less open discussion about race, gender, disability, and fairness.
- Fear among employers and leaders to talk about inequality.
- Organisations avoiding real inclusion work because they don’t want to be called too woke.
- Less progress in making workplaces and communities fair.
Example:
Some UK companies stopped using words like “diversity” or “anti-racism” publicly because of fear of backlash.
This makes it harder to create fair workplaces where everyone feels valued.
7. How the word “woke” is misused
Here are some ways people misuse woke:
a. Making fun of people
- Some call others “woke” to laugh at or silence them.
- This can stop real conversations about fairness.
b. Using it as a lazy insult
- The word is sometimes used to attack anyone who supports fairness or human rights.
c. Businesses pretending
- Some companies talk about equality or inclusion without real action this is called “woke-washing”.
- They use the language of fairness for profit, not real change.
d. Stopping real discussion
- When someone says, “That’s just woke,” they may avoid listening or learning about the problem.
8. What we can do: Checklist for Change: Everyone – leaders, workers, teachers, and young people can make a difference.
Use clear words: Say exactly what you mean (for example, talk about “fair pay” or “equal access” instead of using vague slogans).
Explain your terms: If you use words like diversity, bias, or justice, explain what they mean in simple terms.
Use real examples and evidence: Show data, stories, and facts instead of just repeating phrases.
Be ready to teach and learn: When people disagree or question you, take time to explain instead of walking away.
Focus on action, not appearance: Change should be about real inclusion, not just saying the right things online.
Let everyone speak safely: People should be able to ask questions and share their views respectfully.
Listen to those most affected: Include people with lived experience of racism, ableism, sexism, or poverty in decisions and planning.
Be honest: Share both what is working and what still needs to improve.
Keep the focus on fairness: Don’t get stuck on labels like “woke” or “anti-woke.”
Keep talking about equality, justice, and respect.
9. Why language matters
Words have power.
They can bring people together or push them apart.
The word woke once helped people stay aware and united against injustice.
Now, it can be used to silence or divide.
We need to be careful and thoughtful with our words.
When someone uses woke to attack, we can respond with:
- Facts (what’s really happening),
- Kindness,
- Clarity,
- Courage.
Our goal is not to be “woke.”
Our goal is to build fairness, dignity, and respect for everyone.
10. In short
- Woke means being aware of unfairness.
- It came from Black culture and history.
- Some people now use it wrongly or cruelly.
- We can all choose to use fair and respectful language.
- Equality work is not about being woke – it’s about justice and respect for all.
Links and References
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary – definition of woke
- Oxford English Dictionary – “alert to racial or social discrimination and injustice”
- Lead Belly, Scottsboro Boys (1938)
- William Melvin Kelley, If You’re Woke You Dig It (1962)
- Black Lives Matter movement (from 2014)
- The Independent “How Britain Uses ‘Woke’”
- People Management UK “Is ‘Woke’ Destroying Diversity Work?”
- The Guardian NHS diversity and backlash
- The Grocer senior HR leaders’ survey on anti-woke culture
- Forbes “Woke Capitalism and Corporate Activism”
- YouGov Survey (2022): Found that 73% of people in the UK use the word woke negatively and 11% use it positively.
https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/43645-most-britons-now-know-what-woke