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There are multiple definitions of the word woke. In modern day, conservatives and leftists tend to subscribe to the"New age mainstream White America" definition, which is essentially reducing it to "anything diverse is woke." There are 3 other definitions of the word: 1. **Original Definition**: This is rooted in the Black community, where "woke" refers to an awareness of social and economic issues affecting Black people, especially concerning systemic oppression and historical events like redlining or the Tuskegee syphilis study. The phrase "stay woke" emerged from this context as a call to remain vigilant about such issues. 2. **Moral High Ground Definition**: Some people label themselves or others as "woke" to assert moral superiority. This version often disconnects from the original social justice focus and instead centers on personal righteousness, sometimes dismissing differing opinions by deeming them "non-woke." 3. **Virtue Signaling Definition**: This more recent and broader definition criticizes people, companies, or media that are seen as hypocritical or performative in their advocacy for social justice. It often highlights how these efforts can be shallow, profit-driven, or even inadvertently harmful, like a company pandering for profit or a person adopting a self-righteous, yet close-minded stance.
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