Is ‘woke’ real?

Woke is a strange phenomena, but what does it actually mean? Activists and columnists alike declare that being woke is simply being aware of social injustices and challenging racism and sexism. But if that is the case, where are the out and proud woke warriors? Where are the ‘I’m woke’ pin badges and the ‘Being Woke’ clubs for people to join? The more we are told woke is cool, the harder it gets to find someone who self-identifies as woke. So is woke real?

The Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS) casts doubt on whether it is. The think tank has published new research suggesting that ‘woke’ is essentially the creation of a handful of elite right wingers.

According to the think tank’s director, Ellie Mae O’Hagan, this powerful coterie kicks up a fuss about fictitious ‘wokemobs’ in order to get opponents bogged down in endless debates and distracted from the important task of ‘defending progressive values’.