As we began writing this paper, there was no policy language about critical race theory. No burning books in states. The paper evolved as language and symbols evolved. We do not and cannot claim this is a total history of all signs and symbols associated with historical civil rights movements. Our focus in a snapshot of how the word “woke” moved—and continues to move—from its roots in the Black community to what is today a symbol-laden word easily weaponized because it lives in its own hyperreality. There is an ongoing debate, situated in the education literature, regarding Marxism versus postmodernism as it relates to social justice. We do not have space here to detail the entire thread but can recommend Atkinson ( 2000; 2002) and Cole and Hill ( 1995).
Weaponization of Wokeness: The Theater of Management and Implications for Public Administration
As we began writing this paper, there was no policy language about critical race theory. No burning books in states. The paper evolved as language and symbols evolved. We do not and cannot claim this is a total history of all signs and symbols associated with historical civil rights movements. Our focus in a snapshot of how the word “woke” moved—and continues to move—from its roots in the Black community to what is today a symbol-laden word easily weaponized because it lives in its own hyperreality.
There is an ongoing debate, situated in the education literature, regarding Marxism versus postmodernism as it relates to social justice. We do not have space here to detail the entire thread but can recommend Atkinson ( 2000; 2002) and Cole and Hill ( 1995).