AP Spotlight How 'woke' went from an expression in Black culture to a conservative criticism TERRY TANG Associated Press Oct 1, 2025 Oct 1, 2025 Updated Mar 28, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The expression "stay woke" started as an affirmation for African Americans.kAmx? E96 A2DE 564256[ D@>6 #6AF3=:42?D — 2?5 D@>6 s6>@4C2ED — FD65 :E 2D 2 A6;@C2E:G6 7@C A6@A=6 E9@F89E E@ 36 E@@ QA@=:E:42==J 4@CC64E[Q 2?@E96C E6C> E92E E@@< @? ?682E:G6 4@??@E2E:@?D]k^AmkAm!C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A A=65865 E@ C6G:6H 4@?E6?E 2E E96 $>:E9D@?:2? x?DE:EFE:@? 7@C 36:?8 Q(~ztQ 2?5 H96C6 Q6G6CJE9:?8 5:D4FDD65 :D 9@H 9@CC:3=6 @FC r@F?ECJ :D[ 9@H 325 $=2G6CJ H2D]Qk^Am kAm%6I2D v@G] vC68 p33@EE 564=2C65 E92E 8@G6C?>6?E H@F=5 <66A QH@<6 286?52DQ @FE @7 F?:G6CD:E:6D 2?5 z\`a D49@@=D[ :?4=F5:?8 QH@<6 86?56C :56@=@8:6D]Qk^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: Caleb Wygal's life story is as good as his books Down payment aid package launches in Cabarrus County, expanding homeownership access Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation to 'Illuminate' the community at its 29th annual gala Art Walk on Union returns in Downtown Concord Saturday Recognize anyone in this 1950s Methodist Sunday School photo? Trump signs executive action to pay TSA after Congress fails to agree on DHS funding Judge orders Trump to halt White House ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it Friday Five: Raising Cane's and Sheetz coming to Concord Redeveloped Beverly Hills will be Mary Frances Wall Pre-K Center Student shoots a teacher at Texas high school before fatally shooting self, authorities say Advocate Health plans drone network to deliver prescriptions, lab samples Food Lion Feeds gives grant to help hungry Rowan-Cabarrus students Friday Five New flights, new homes, pancakes and art It's Wes Miller time for Charlotte 49ers basketball Hickory Ridge claims first swimming and diving conference titles kAm~? %F6D52J[ s676?D6 $64C6E2CJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\968D6E9\86?6C2=D\>66E:?8\>:=:E2CJ\A6?E28@?\_645433ggff6acbah472_74`6gd`635aQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm!6E6 w68D6E9k^2m D2:5 96 H:== 6?5 QH@<6Q 4F=EFC6 :? E96 >:=:E2CJ] #676C6?4:?8 5:G6CD:EJ[ 6BF:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@? 677@CED[ EC2?D86?56C EC@@AD[ 6?G:C@?>6?E2= A@=:4:6D 2?5 @E96C 5:D4:A=:?2CJ CF=6D[ 96 D2:5 E96 >:=:E2CJ H2D 92>DECF?8 3J A@=:E:42= 4@CC64E?6DD]k^Am kAmQp>6C:42 :D ?@ =@?86C H@<6 F?56C !C6D:56?E %CF>AVD =6256CD9:A] %96 H@C5 VH@<6V C6AC6D6?ED C25:42= :56@=@8:6D E92E 2C6 FD65 WE@X 5:G:56 E96 p>6C:42? A6@A=6 2?5 92C> @FC 4@F?ECJ[Q (9:E6 w@FD6 DA@<6DA6CD@? {:K wFDE@? D2:5]k^Am k9am%96 9:DE@CJ @7 ‘H@<6’k^9amkAmQ(@<6?6DDQ @C:8:?2E65 564256D 28@ 2D p7C:42? p>6C:42? 4F=EFC2= D=2?8 7@C 92G:?8 2H2C6?6DD 2?5 6?=:89E6?>6?E 23@FE C24:D>[ :?;FDE:46[ AC:G:=686 @C E9C62ED @7 H9:E6 DFAC6>24:DE G:@=6?46]k^Am kAm$6G6C2= 9:DE@C:2?D EC246 E96 :562 E@ 2 `hab 4@>A:=2E:@? @7 DA66496D 2?5 2CE:4=6D 3J y2>2:42?\3@C? q=24< ?2E:@?2=:DE |2C4FD v2CG6J] x? @?6 6DD2J[ v2CG6J HC@E6[ Q(2<6 FA tE9:@A:2P (2<6 FA p7C:42PQk^AmkAmp?@E96C C676C6?46 2AA62CD :? `hbg :? E96 D@?8 Q$4@EED3@C@ q@JDQ 3J 3=F6D 2CE:DE {625 q6==J[ H9@D6 C62= ?2>6 H2D wF55:6 {6536EE6C] %96 EF?6 7@==@HD E96 ECF6 DE@CJ @7 7@FC q=24< J@FE9D F?;FDE=J 4@?G:4E65 3J 2? 2==\H9:E6 ;FCJ @7 E96 C2A6 @7 EH@ H9:E6 H@>6?j E96J H6C6 =2E6C 7C665] %96 =JC:4D H2C? q=24< =:DE6?6CD E@ 36 42C67F= 2?5 QDE2J H@<6] z66A J@FC 6J6D @A6?]Qk^Am kAmv6C2=5 |4(@CE6C[ 2 AC@76DD@C 6>6C:EFD @7 p7C:42? p>6C:42? DEF5:6D 2?5 @7 :?7@C>2E:@? D4:6?46D 2E &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x==:?@:D &C32?2\r92>A2:8?[ D2JD H@<6 H2D 23@FE 92G:?8 2 G@:46 27E6C 9F?5C65D @7 J62CD @7 q=24< DF776C:?8 8@:?8 324< E@ E96 p7C:42? D=2G6 EC256]k^AmkAm%96 A9C2D6 2=D@ A@AA65 FA :? 2 `hea 6DD2J 3J ?@G6=:DE (:==:2> |6=G:? z6==6J 7@C %96 }6H *@C< %:>6D F?56C E96 9625=:?6[ Qx7 *@FVC6 (@<6[ *@F s:8 xE]Q z6==6JVD H:5@H 2?5 52F89E6C 36=:6G6 96 962C5 E96 E6C> H9:=6 H2=<:?8 2C@F?5 E96:C w2C=6> ?6:893@C9@@5[ D2:5 t=:;29 (2ED@?[ 2 A@A 4F=EFC6 HC:E6C 2?5 65:E@C H9@ HC@E6 23@FE z6==6J[ H9@ 5:65 :? a_`f]k^Am k9amp C62H2<6?:?8k^9am kAm$:?86C\D@?8HC:E6C tCJ<29 q25F @7E6? :D 4C65:E65 H:E9 C6G:G:?8 E96 E6C>] w6C D@?8 Q|2DE6C %62496CQ @? 96C a__g 2=3F>[ Q}6H p>6CJ<29i !2CE ~?6[Q :?4=F56D E96 C67C2:? Qx DE2J H@<6]Qk^AmkAmp7E6C 2 H9:E6 A@=:46 @77:46C D9@E 2?5 <:==65 `g\J62C\@=5 |:4926= qC@H? — H9@ H2D q=24< 2?5 F?2C>65 — :? a_`c :? u6C8FD@?[ |@][ QH@<6Q 2?5 QDE2J H@<6Q 3642>6 82=G2?:K:?8 42==D :? E96 8C@H:?8 q=24< {:G6D |2EE6C >@G6>6?E[ H9:49 5C6H DFAA@CE 7C@> @E96C C24:2= 8C@FAD]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm(@<6 2=D@ 3642>6 A@AF=2C:K65 3J H9:E6 =:36C2=D H9@ H2?E65 E@ D9@H E96J H6C6 2==:6D]k^Am k9am%96 H2C @? H@<6k^9amkAm%96 324<=2D9 3F33=65 FA :? E96 a_`_D[ 2>:5 5:D4FDD:@?D 23@FE :?4=F5:?8 >@C6 q=24< 9:DE@CJ :? p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ =6DD@?D] |2?J A6@A=6 D2:5 3C:?8:?8 Q4C:E:42= C246 E96@CJQ E@ D49@@=D H2D >62?E E@ AC@8C2> H9:E6 49:=5C6? E@ 766= 8F:=EJ]k^Am kAmx? a_aa[ u=@C:52 v@G] #@? s6$2?E:D D:8?65 E96 $E@A (]~]z]t] p4E[ H9:49 32??65 E6249:?8 2?5 3FD:?6DD AC24E:46D 32D65 @? C246 2?5 86?56C] %96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^C24:D>\C@?\56D2?E:D\7=@C:52\`2d3`6a`dg3geggcg237f_bebb7d4g7eQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm=2H :D @? 9@=5k^2m 27E6C 2 7656C2= ;F586 566>65 :E F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2=]k^Am kAms6>@4C2E:4 A@=:E:4:2?D H9@ AFCA@CE E@ 36 492>A:@?D @7 H@<6?6DD 2?5 stx 92G6 5@?6 =:EE=6 7@C q=24< A6@A=6[ D@ H@<6 92D ?@ DH2J 2D 2 C2==J:?8 4CJ[ D2:5 v6@C86 !62CD@?[ 2 7@C>6C 492:C @7 E96 x==:?@:D q=24< #6AF3=:42? r@2=:E:@?] w6 2=D@ E9:?<D :EVD F?72:C E92E E9@D6 H9@ 5@ ?@E DFAA@CE QH@<6\:D>Q 2C6 E@=5[ Q*@FVC6 C24:DE] *@FVC6 2 9@>@A9@36] *@FVC6 2 3:8@E]Qk^Am kAmtG6? 2>@?8 =:36C2= q=24< p>6C:42?D[ E96C6 :D 5632E6 H96E96C E96 :?E6?E:@? @7 H@<6 5@6D >@C6 92C> E92? 8@@5]k^Amk9am(9@ D2JD :E ?@Hnk^9amkAmx? (2ED@?VD 6IA6C:6?46[ H@<6 :D ?@ =@?86C A2CE @7 q=24< G6C?24F=2Cj :7 96 962CD :E 7C@> 2?J@?6 :? 9:D D@4:2= 4:C4=6D[ 96 ?@E65[ :EVD 2=>@DE 2=H2JD D2:5 Q:? ;6DE]Qk^Am kAm$@>6 AC@8C6DD:G6D 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ E2<6 324< E96 H@C5]k^Am kAmQ|2<6 ?@ >:DE2<6[ 6>A2E9J :D ?@E H62< @C H@<6[Q 24E@C 2?5 24E:G:DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^D28\2H2C5D\a_ad\H:??6CD\?@>:?66D\4ah`fg26h42h2af77e2d_33c_d4h5b72Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmy2?6 u@?52 D2:5 H9:=6 C646:G:?8 E96 $4C66? p4E@CD vF:=5 =:76E:>6 249:6G6>6?E 2H2C5k^2m] QqJ E96 H2J[ H@<6 ;FDE >62?D J@F 8:G6 2 52>? 23@FE @E96C A6@A=6]Qk^Am kAm$66?2 w@586D DE2CE65 2 3FD:?6DD 2D 2 stx DEC2E68:DE 7@C :?5:G:5F2=D 2?5 8C@FAD :? a_`g 2?5 42==65 :E %96 (@<6 r@249] $96 2?5 96C E62> 4@?DF=E @? 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> H@C<A=246 :?E6C24E:@?D E@ 36DE C64CF:E:?8 AC24E:46D] $96 E@F496D @? :?4=FD:@? 7@C 8C@FAD 7C@> A6@A=6 @7 4@=@C E@ 3C62DE7665:?8 >@E96CD]k^Am kAm%96 Q32DE2C5:K2E:@?Q @7 H@<6 2?5 stx 2D H@C5D 2<:? E@ D=FCD 5@6D?VE 3@E96C 96C[ D96 D2:5]k^AmkAm%@ 96C[ H@<6 :D 23@FE 2H2C6?6DD] Q(92E :E C62==J 3@:=D 5@H? E@ :D 96=A:?8 A6@A=6 56G6=@A 2 >@C6 24FE6 =6G6= @7 6>@E:@?2= :?E6==:86?46[Q D96 D2:5]k^AmkAm000k^AmkAmk6>mpDD@4:2E65 !C6DD HC:E6C r9C:DE@A96C |686C:2? :? (2D9:?8E@? 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^6>mk^Am 0 Comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story At America's national parks in the Trump era, the arc of history bends toward revisionism Trump's campaign to have the government tell a happier story of American history confronts its toughest challenge. There is no positive spin t… Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children It's the most significant move the Trump administration has taken so far to restrict the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgical… Trump calls for using US cities as 'training ground' for armed forces in unusual speech to generals During his nearly hour-long speech, Hegseth said the U.S. military has promoted too many leaders for the wrong reasons based on race, gender q… What’s the difference between shame and guilt? | The Ethical Life podcast Can we reframe our past without sliding into self-deception? | The Ethical Life podcast 19 Black historical figures you probably didn't learn about in class Watch Now: Related Video Nitrate pollution, agriculture’s persistent problem, expected to worsen with warming winters Trump faces ‘profound problems’ as approval rating hits new low Trump faces ‘profound problems’ as approval rating hits new low Trump heads to Supreme Court, making him the first sitting president to attend top court's arguments AP Trump heads to Supreme Court, making him the first sitting president to attend top court's arguments Trump plans to attend Supreme Court hearing on his bid to limit birthright citizenship AP Trump plans to attend Supreme Court hearing on his bid to limit birthright citizenship
At America's national parks in the Trump era, the arc of history bends toward revisionism Trump's campaign to have the government tell a happier story of American history confronts its toughest challenge. There is no positive spin t…
Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children It's the most significant move the Trump administration has taken so far to restrict the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgical…
Trump calls for using US cities as 'training ground' for armed forces in unusual speech to generals During his nearly hour-long speech, Hegseth said the U.S. military has promoted too many leaders for the wrong reasons based on race, gender q…
AP Trump heads to Supreme Court, making him the first sitting president to attend top court's arguments