 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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