Reclaiming the Narrative: Cultivating Clarity & Addressing Misguided Notions of 'Wokeness' in Libraries and Educational Settings

The evolution of the term “woke” over time has become popularized in mainstream media. But, when we examine the term “woke” we must also examine its’ history, which has important context. The origins of “woke” have its roots in the early 20th century, and used during the civil rights era, where it served as a term to remind black people to remain aware and vigilant about discrimination and injustices. Fast forward to the early 2010s, after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin, and the formation of the Black Lives Matter Movement where “Stay Woke” became a movement within itself, the term took on a new broader meaning to also highlight areas of injustice from the LGBTQ+ community to gender equality.

As of 2023, the term “woke,” like many terms associated with social change, have become weaponized, often from conservative circles, and began using the term derisively. It has become a “catch all” phrase for anything to do with social injustice or change. States like Florida have code named legislation, ‘Stop Woke Act,” where there is REAL law for FAKE issues, such as what has been described as racist math books and teaching kindergarteners that they are racist, and the “woke mob”. All due to miseducation and playing to the fears of those are over social justice conversations. Texas and other states have also adopted similar legislation. Creating laws that ban books, film, and education on diversity and inclusion. Completely de-funding offices of EDI on college campuses. This is the definition of indoctrination, contrary to the belief that people who are allowed to have varying beliefs and thoughts are doing the indoctrinating. Limiting EDI to only race and identity, when it is much more that includes accessibility, socioeconomic status, age, and more.

The “Woke Mob” is fiction. It is an oversimplification of the concerns of those who feel marginalized and, by doing so, makes it easier to paint activists as irrational for wanting equality. It has been weaponized to downplay EDI efforts and having conversations about how we, as people and as a country, need to continue to come together to ensure that ALL have a space to feel validated and welcome. As not only a practitioner in EDI, but as an educator, teaching this subject matter to college students, my job is to provide perspective that may not have been considered and to think critically about EDI.

Social Justice encompasses the advocacy for the creation of equitable societies. It is a movement towards all members having equal rights, opportunities, and access to resources. It is a long-term and continuous commitment to equity for everyone. A commitment to social justice ensures that libraries, which have historically played a crucial role in being democratic with access to information, continue this mission by making resources available and accessible to all.

Equality focuses on treating all individuals the same. “The Golden Rule,” as we were raised to discuss it. But equity provides these same individuals with the tools and resources to achieve said equality. Libraries embody both principles with equal access (be it in-person or digital), tailored programming, safe spaces, outreach programs, and more. While we witness a suppression and omission of history from education, continuing to promote social justice within the library system & educational spaces ensures the objective remains. Libraries have an opportunity to stand firm on the mission of prioritizing diverse knowledge, cultural exchange, the promotion of diverse education, and to continue to be democratic learning institutions.