What does ‘woke’ mean?

The word “woke” has appeared in headlines and politicians’ sound bites a lot in recent years. But where did this term come from and what does it even mean?

In this episode, we talk to our guests about the history of the word “woke.” Spoiler alert — it’s not as new as you might think. We’ll also dive into how the meaning has changed over the years along with who has used it.

But first, we check in with WPLN’s criminal justice reporter Paige Pfleger to discuss the recent change in how Metro Nashville Police Department calculates 911 call response times.

Guests:

• Linda Wynn, Tennessee Historical Commission assistant director for state programs 

• Elijah Watson, OkayPlayer news and culture editor

• Joshua Black, comedian and visual artist

• Jamel Campbell Gooch, Black Nashville Assembly community organizer and Southern Movement Committee’s director of organizing

Related reading: 

• OkayPlayer: The Origin Of Woke: How The Death Of Woke Led To The Birth Of Cancel Culture