politics
Woke 1.0 is over. But what did progressives do wrong?
A movement with safety, dignity and equality at its heart may now be blamed for the rightwing backlash. But within it were principles worth carrying forwards
TL;DR
- The concept of "Woke 1.0" and the "vibe shift" signifies a perceived end to movements for racial and gender equality.
- The article argues that "Woke 1.0" addressed concrete problems like policing of minority communities, sexual harassment, and systemic racism/sexism.
- Perceived "wokeness" is described as partly mimetic fashion and partly a belief in the opportunity to make equalizing politics mainstream.
- The author suggests that the left's focus on culture stems from a lack of political power, not inherent radicalism.
- Blaming "Woke 1.0" for the resurgence of Donald Trump and MAGA is presented as a flawed assumption equating social behaviors with state power.
- The article asserts that "wokeness lost" due to a vicious backlash, and that the principles of safety, dignity, and equal opportunity are worth carrying forward.
- Future progress requires long-term political organization focused on material concerns and solidarity, rather than solely cultural shifts.