[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 147 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           DEFINITION OF WOKE

  (Ms. LEE of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as my Republican 
colleagues continue to rail against everything woke and for their 
Project 2025 agenda.
  Now, most Members don't even know what woke even means, so let me 
just try to lay it out. As the NAACP reminded us in a 2023 resolution, 
the word ``woke'' has been used by Black Americans even as far back as 
the 1940s when the Black mineworkers issued the statement: ``We were 
asleep. But we will stay woke from now on.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert this official NAACP 
resolution titled: ``Resolution-Reclaiming the Word `Woke' as Part of 
African-American Culture'' be inserted into the Congressional Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.

                              NAACP--2023


 resolution: reclaiming the word ``Woke'' as part of african american 
                                culture

       Whereas, Black history is a critical aspect of American 
     history and has shaped American culture, including the 
     evolution of language; and
       Whereas, The words ``Wake Up'' and ``Woke'' have served as 
     a call to action as conveyed by social activist Marcus Garvey 
     who stated, ``Wake up Ethiopia! Wake up Africa'', and the 
     Negro Mine Workers who in 1940 issued the statement, ``We 
     were asleep. But we will stay woke from now on,'' in 
     advocating against discriminatory pay; and
       Whereas, The term ``Woke'' was first highlighted in the 
     1962 essay, ``If You're Woke, You Dig It'', featured in the 
     ``New York Times'' by Harlem-based writer William Melvin 
     Kelley who documented the cultural appropriation and 
     distortion of language, resulting in certain idioms being 
     abandoned by their original Black creators; and
       Whereas, The term ``Woke'' has been similarly misused, as 
     traditionally and white-focused media have reframed ``Woke'' 
     as trendy new slang, eroding its cultural connection and 
     separating the term from its historical grounding in social 
     justice; and
       Whereas, Six decades later, anti-Black racists have engaged 
     in a similar exercise of cultural appropriation to weaponized 
     and misdefine the term ``Woke'', as evidenced by the ``Stop 
     W.O.K.E. Act'', specifically targeting the teaching of 
     American history and Black educators; and
       Whereas, Black educators are more likely to teach subjects 
     that incorporate an inclusive view of history, and 
     legislation like the ``Stop W.O.K.E. Act'' threatens the free 
     speech and livelihood of teachers, and the quality of 
     education received by all students, most recently students in 
     Florida.
       Therefore be it resolved, that the NAACP affirms the term 
     ``Woke'' and its historical connection to Black history, 
     Black liberation movements, and social justice.
       Be it further resolved, that the NAACP through its units 
     encourages a historically accurate and correct use of the 
     term ``Woke'' when its misuse is identified.
       Be it finally resolved, that the NAACP condemns cultural 
     appropriation, misuse of Black idioms, and specific efforts 
     by anti-Black racists to distort and redefine the specific 
     term ``Woke.''
  Ms. LEE of California. In 2010 it began to be used widely, primarily 
by Black Americans to bring awareness to social inequities such as 
racial injustice, sexism, and denial of LGBTQ+ rights.
  Today, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ``woke'' as ``aware of 
and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues, 
especially issues of racial and social justice.''
  Also, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary quotes me from a speech I gave 
several years ago: ``We have a moral obligation to `stay woke,' take a 
stand and be active; challenging injustices and racism in our 
communities. . . .''

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