Ding Dong, the Wicked Woke is Dead!

"Woke culture" began to die the day after the 2024 election but after January 20th, acceleration toward its final end begins.

The Woke Movement Under a Microscope

We are witnessing the collapse of “woke culture” in real time. The immediate surrender of the executives in charge of social media censorship and the settlement and jury decisions in the ABC and CNN defamation cases indicate the landscape of American political and cultural discourse is undergoing a seismic shift, with the phenomena we label as "woke culture" showing unmistakable signs of waning influence. As we approach the inauguration on Monday, there's a palpable sense that this decline is not only continuing but is poised to accelerate into a death spiral. This collapse seems inevitable, due to the parasitic nature of woke culture, its dependency on the Democratic Party, and the changing political climate post-2024 election.

If you, like me, felt a strong sense of relief and optimism after the election, I think this is why – at least it is what I have intuited over these past few months – the chaos of wokeism is ending.

It is crucial to understand woke culture not as an autonomous, self-sustaining movement but rather as a parasitic entity. Much like a leech, a tick, or a tapeworm, woke ideology requires a host to thrive, drawing its vitality from the political, educational, and corporate institutions it infiltrates. This dependency is particularly evident in its relationship with the Democratic Party. For years, the Democrats have either explicitly or implicitly supported woke policies, whether through legislative agendas, public endorsements, or by allowing woke rhetoric to dominate their public narrative. However, the 2024 election results have demonstrated that this host might not be as robust as it once was. Democrats are openly questioning the value of sustaining the insanity of the woke years.

The confirmation of Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 election was a pivotal moment, akin to a near-fatal blow to the host organism. The Democratic Party, once a formidable vehicle for progressive ideas, now appears weakened, struggling to maintain its relevance without the support of the broader electorate. This election was a clear indication that the American public, or at least a significant portion of it, is no longer willing to accept or advocate for the extreme positions often associated with woke culture. The rejection of these ideas at the polls suggests a broader societal fatigue with the divisiveness and the perceived overreach of woke policies, from cancel culture to identity politics and beyond.

Moreover, the post-election introspection within the Democratic Party itself is telling. There's a growing acknowledgment among party members and leaders that the embrace of woke culture might have been a strategic misstep. The party's focus on issues like defunding the police, radical interpretations of gender and race, and the prioritization of identity politics over economic or national security concerns has alienated a swath of voters, including those in the center and even some on the traditional left. This self-doubt within the party is leading to a reconsideration of what constitutes their core values and strategy for future elections, potentially reducing the prominence of woke ideologies in their platform.

The environment post-inauguration will likely foster this acceleration of woke culture's decline. With Trump back in office, there's an expectation that policies and cultural narratives will shift away from those championed by the left during the last administration. Trump's style of leadership, which emphasizes national identity over intersectionality, could further marginalize woke perspectives in mainstream discourse. Additionally, his administration is poised to actively dismantle and counteract policies that have been hallmarked by woke culture, such as diversity mandates in education and corporate sectors, or the push for certain types of “social justice” reforms that were based in quotas and reverse discrimination.

Furthermore, the cultural backlash against wokeism, visible in social media, publications, and public opinion, is becoming more pronounced. People are increasingly vocal about their frustration with what they perceive as an overcorrection or an overemphasis on identity politics at the expense of unity and common sense. The term "woke" itself has become somewhat of a pejorative in many circles, indicative of a movement seen as out of touch with everyday American concerns.

In conclusion, the collapse of woke culture is unfolding in real time because it lacks the inherent strength to survive without the political and institutional support it once enjoyed. With the Democratic Party questioning its commitment to these ideologies and the public showing a clear preference for less divisive politics, the cultural shift away from wokeism seems not just likely but inevitable. The inauguration on Monday might just be the symbolic end of an era, marking the beginning of a cultural recalibration back towards a more center-right leaning, reality based American identity.