 The anti-woke movement is no longer just a republican or conservative political backlash against liberal or progressive excess. It’s become a fast-moving T train picking up all kinds of passengers—some with reasonably valid critiques, others with much darker and nefarious intentions. But first, let’s acknowledge that there are elements of the woke movement that simply overreached and wouldn't let up. Like Mark Wahlberg's overblown Boston accent in The Perfect Storm, some of it just became unbearable to listen to. With this lens, one can appreciate that a public appetite for correction was inevitable. But what was difficult to predict is that while the grievances are diverse, the shared opposition itself would become a collective identity. The rapid piling-on has created a mood that says: not only is enough enough, but let's prop the door open and fight back—on everything. Why? Because the mood has created room for more than just a little extra push back. It’s created cover. Under the anti-woke banner, voices that were once confined to the margins are stepping into the mainstream with confidence. Not just voices opposed to progressive gender policies, for instance, but voices that are passionately striving to normalize racism, antisemitism, and many other forms of hate. The energy is being shared at internet speed—and that’s what makes this moment in American history so pivotal. Momentum Is Contagious When movements start, from either side, momentum builds when they draw in those looking for permission to express something they feel at their core, but have been hesitant to broadcast. And that’s precisely what’s happening. A rhetoric once maintained in the back channels is becoming increasingly mainstream, repackaged as 'common sense', 'parental rights', or 'cultural preservation'. It was subtle at first, and now it’s pervasive. (See data under "LERN Module".) To be clear, I’m not suggesting everyone who questions “wokeness” is secretly harboring extremist views. Far from it. There are thoughtful conservatives, sincere people who feel left behind by shifting social norms and want to have a voice in today's conversation. And they should. But remember, it was just yesterday that saying something overtly racist in public would come with intense consequences—loss of your social standing, job, credibility. Today, we’re watching a slow unraveling of those consequences because the social signal that once shamed such things has weakened under the weight of “anti-woke” fervor. In net effect, what began as reactive backlash against wokeness is leading to the normalization of some pretty old and ugly shit. Back to Work, Kids If we don’t call this out, we risk enabling it further. We risk letting legitimate frustrations be co-opted by those with no interest in good-faith dialogue, only in power, exclusion, bigotry, and resentment. The hidden passengers become the loudest voices. The train changes course. So, yes, let’s have the hard conversations about gender, fairness, language, education, and history. Let’s examine where our policies and narratives could use a tune up. But let’s make sure we're paying attention to who’s taking advantage of these conversations—and why. Because history has taught us what happens when a populist wave goes unchecked. It won’t just clear away the excess like a Zamboni at the Garden smoothing the ice, we run the risk of it carving away the fundamental values that are the foundation of our American democracy and society. What this Freight Train Does, or Does Not, Slam into is Up to Us The question is: Are we guiding the anti-woke momentum toward a more just and thoughtful society—or are we letting it carry us backwards, to a place Americans past and present have agreed we never want to be? _____________________________________________________________________ For teachers, mentors, and parents... LERN Module: Media Literacy & Modern Movements Lesson Title: When Pushback Becomes a Parade: Understanding the Anti-Woke Wave Core Objectives:
Examples of People That are Even Building Personal Brands on Being Anti-Woke:
Current Trends in Digital Hate Take note: This isn’t just noise from the internet’s dark cellar. The numbers show a coordinated, emboldened effort by hate-driven actors to hijack the anti-woke narrative and normalize bigotry in the mainstream. The Data:
Assignment: Choose one anti-woke figure from the list above. Then:
Bonus Activity: Use the following Critical Evaluation Checklist to judge a viral anti-woke moment:
If you intend to ride today's American cultural rollercoaster, you really should know who's rebuilding the tracks. - The Boston American
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 A Boston-born lesson in power, money, and how not to get played by billionaires. While seeing Elon Musk announce that he's starting his own political party is a bit more believable than, say, seeing Sox iconic old school manager Don Zimmer flailing around on the Fenway infield grass in a Yankee uniform, it still makes you wonder: "How the F can this possibly happen?" This isn't satire. It’s reality. A hyper-wealthy, ultra-visible tech mogul can now decide to bypass both political parties, fund his own version of the future, and stack the media with paid influencers to make it sound like revolution. And guess what? It’s completely legal. Forget storming the castle. The new American revolution comes with a Super PAC and a livestream. How Is This Legal? Because our campaign finance system is softer than the middle of a Dunk's Boston Creme donut. Here’s how it works:
What’s Supposed to Stop This? In theory?
So What Can We Do? Well, we can’t outspend Elon. But we can out-learn him. Because the most powerful thing in a democracy isn’t money—it’s an educated public. And the best place to start building that? The dinner table and the classroom. Because let’s be honest—if we’re old enough to remember the shock of seeing Don Zimmer go down in pinstripes, we should be wise enough to teach the next generation how not to get blindsided by billionaires doing backflips through legal loopholes. Enter the LERN teaching module designed to help students, teachers, and even skeptical adults understand just how deep this rabbit hole goes—and what we can do about it. LERN Teaching Module: Power, Money, and Democracy: Who’s Actually in Charge Around Here? OVERVIEW Here's a creative and interactive teaching module designed to help young adults understand campaign finance, media influence, and the role of wealth in U.S. politics. Ideal for middle school, high school, or early college students. Emphasis on current events, critical thinking, and student-led discovery. Adaptable for civics, history, media studies, or social justice curricula. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
LESSON STRUCTURE (3 CLASS SESSIONS) Session 1: The Price of Power Topic: How political parties and campaigns get funded. Activity: "Follow the Money" Treasure Hunt
Session 2: Ads, Influence, and Algorithms Topic: How media and money shape public opinion. Activity: TikTok & YouTube Ad Analysis
Homework: Write a short reflection: Have you ever been influenced by an ad without realizing it? Be honest. Session 3: Let’s Rewrite the Rules Topic: What can we do about it? Activity: Simulation Game — “So You Want to Be a Billionaire”
Final Project Prompt (Optional): Choose one:
MATERIALS NEEDED:
NOTES TO EDUCATORS:
To learn more about the kind of betrayal Boston fans never forget—and the man who went from Sox legend to Yankees brawler—read our blog: → Don Zimmer and the Ghost of Fenway  |
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