Coffee Time

Wake-

verb (used with

object), waked or woke [wohk], waked or wok·en [woh-kuhn], wak·ing.

Woke- aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)

When asked, “How are you, this morning, Robbie?” my father-in-law would often respond, “I’m not awake yet” implying that until he had a cup of coffee he was in no condition to answer my question appropriately.

Likewise, until we are “woke”, we are unaware and, therefore, unable to face our fellow humans in an appropriate manner.

Robbie with a cup of coffee and a pleasant smile

It is with great love and pride that I quote my daughter, Caroline (one of the most woke among us) from an article she wrote this week for YWCA Columbus -“Y Now: The time is right for ACTION”

As we enter June, a month that honors a rich legacy of social justice, we encourage our supporters to recommit to advancing positive social change that supports and protects people sitting at the intersections of gender, race, and sexual marginalization, and we would like to recognize and celebrate both Pride and Juneteenth – and their respective calls to action for us this June (and beyond!).

In our pursuit of justice, YWCA Columbus has called upon our community to reckon with the United States’ history of codified oppression, which perpetuates inequity and marginalization to this day. As a nation founded on the unpaid labor of enslaved Africans and on stolen land, it is imperative we collectively act to right the wrongs of our past and embrace a future where everyone has the autonomy to live a life of freedom and authenticity.

Those in positions of power have long oppressed LGBTQ+ people, and today, lawmakers continue attempts to legislate trans, non-binary, and other queer people out of existence. We affirm the lives, value, and dignity of LGBTQ+ people and vehemently fight against these harmful attacks.

So I echo Caroline and agree that it is past time for us to take a stand against those who want to remain blinded to social injustice and hide behind "red" ideologies of racism and intolerance.

"We have respected our taxpayers and we reject woke ideology…We fight the woke in the legislature. We fight the woke in the schools. We fight the woke in the corporations. We will never, ever surrender to the woke mob. Florida is where woke goes to die." –Ron DeSantis

Unfortunately, I have not always been “woke”. Due to ignorance, implicit bias, and social privilege, I looked at the world through semi-opaque lenses.

Implicit bias is a collection of associations and reactions that emerge automatically upon encountering an individual or group. We associate negative or positive stereotypes with certain groups and let these influence how we treat them rather than remaining neutral.

Becoming woke requires self analysis followed by the intention to act in a manner that accepts commonalities found in all humans regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, or religious association.

Are my lenses totally clear? Not totally, but I am trying. Will someone please brew me another cup of coffee?

CPW