Stay Woke: Our Fight for Truth and Justice

by Michael Thompson

Overview

The term "stay woke" was introduced into the American lexicon by the talented Black musician Huddie William Ledbetter ("Lead Belly") in 1938 in a song called Scottsboro Boys. The Scottsboro Boys were nine young Black men unjustly imprisoned following false claims of sexually assaulting two white women in Alabama in 1931. The case drew national attention and exposed the blatant racism of the Alabama criminal justice system. The phrase "stay woke," as presented in this song, was intended to warn Blacks to be aware of racial injustice when traveling through this state. Drawn from these cruel and unfortunate circumstances, the word "woke," defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, means "to be aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues--especially racial and social justice issues." Unfortunately, some right-wing politicians have derailed the word's true meaning by co-opting it as divisive and advocating for a "colorblind" society. In "Stay Woke: Our Fight for Truth and Justice," a direct correlation is made between racially-charged laws and policies of the past to inequities experienced today in six key areas: voting rights, education, housing, incarceration, healthcare, and generational wealth for Black Americans. Woke is antiracism; it is anti-bigotry. Being attentive to these issues enables meaningful discussions about racial and social inequalities. To go inside a group's culture, take their word and rebrand it by attaching negative connotations to contradict its true meaning and origin is wrong. This book provides a framework for understanding the impact of our past so that we can move in unison to resolve racial and social inequities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798988301417
Publisher:	Interprofessional Health Educators
Publication date:	06/26/2023
Pages:	162
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

Dr. Michael Thompson is a retired professor and pharmacist raised in Detroit, Michigan, during the Civil Rights era and an advocate for racial and social justice. He is an Executive Contributor for Brainz Magazine for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He is CEO of Interprofessional Health Educators, LLC, where he provides health consultant services and is a social media creator on racial and social justice topics. Raised in Detroit and educated in the Detroit Public School System, he received baccalaureate and doctorate degrees from the University of Michigan.