The Truth About Anti-Wokeness
There is a narrative making the rounds that goes something like this. Donald Trump was re-elected on the back of an anti-woke backlash by working class voters. The truth about anti-wokeness is a more nuanced story. Society has been moving toward a more multiracial and diverse status quo. It has not been without its issues, especially for historically entitled white folk. Learning to be tolerant of others, not obviously like you, is not immediately attractive to some. We were, however, making inroads in the right direction. Then, some smart cookie in the right wing camp thought, why not make an advantage out of what was once considered a negative trait.
Anti-Wokeness Is A Right Wing Stratagem
They decided to popularize the attitudes most recently held by white supremacists and neo-Nazis. The new message was that it is OK to vent your racist attitudes. It is more than that, it is your God given right to question the social validity of non-white, non-Christian folk living in your country. They soon knew they were onto a winner, politically speaking. Extending this franchise, they went after gays and women too. Toxic masculinity was the new feel good rush to energize the base. DEI was crap and was taking jobs from white men who were better than any of these compromised candidates.
The Anti-Woke Parade Is Politically Driven
Pretty soon LGBTQI folk were in their crosshairs. Human rights were being pushed aside by right wing bullies, as they had back in the day. Civil rights had gone too far. It was time for a reactionary crack down on stuff that didn’t fit the picture of a white 1950s picture. Trad wife! Book banning in libraries and schools was being driven by GOP aligned groups. Suddenly, it was not OK to be different in 21C America. Free speech was a thing of the past, as SCOTUS became selective in their adherence to the US Constitution. A bit like how folk read the Bible, leaving out the bits that don’t fit their ideas of what Christianity is about. Trump Republicans want to turn back time and most of us know how that invariably ends up.
“The Trump administration’s effort to dismantle what it calls federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs has widened in recent months — extending from agency offices to infrastructure projects, schools and cultural institutions. “
Republicans & Intolerance
The Republicans and social conservatives everywhere are appealing to the laziness of folk. Tolerance is too hard! Go back to your small mindedness, its OK. These ‘others’ are bad people. Give us your vote and we will turn back time. This is the truth about anti-wokeness. It was an itch that right wing strategists turned into a rash. They, then, declared that rash to be a come to Jesus moment for the nation. A nasty blue eyed Jesus, who had lost his copy of the Gospels. ICE bashing up women, children, immigrants on the streets of America. Very f****** Christian!
“I saw a reference to a published survey of Australians’ attitudes toward the United States in light of Donald Trump’s presidency. It was commissioned by the United States Studies Centre, which I imagine has some skin in the game. In my own opinion, I think that Australians do not grasp how bad America has become under the Trump regime. Trump was a bit of a joke for Aussies, over the last decade, but the penny, just maybe, is starting to drop.”
Racists Wrapping Themselves In National Flags
In Australia, we have racists wrapping themselves in the Aussie flag and marching through the CBD. What right do these false patriots have to dress themselves in this manner? What have they ever done for the country? This nation was built on the back of immigration. These folk are the descendants of immigrants themselves. Go and get your own flag, do not wrap yourselves in mine. This is another right wing stratagem to take the high moral ground, if possible. White is not right, however, and has no more rights than anyone else.
Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of What Price Life?; America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump; and other titles. NOW AVAILABLE AT APPLE BOOKS.
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