The battle over "Woke Culture"; When being bludgeoned into submission split America in two.

There was a time when using the word “woke” to describe someone’s take on an issue meant they were informed, forward-thinking, even looking for solutions to issues. It was, as strange as this sounds, at times an actual compliment,

Personified by the sledgehammer approach the American political Left and their compatriots used to seek a change in this country overnight, the word almost immediately took on a negative connotation. It wiped out any of the potential positives for changing policies and seeking to make America a more equally diverse nation, and turned into a Right wing war cry that galvanized their followers at the November 2024 polls.

At it’s core, America should always strive for an equally-balanced society where everyone, regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, economic wherewithal and political status begins every day with an equal footing and the ability to succeed.

Democrats are still silent on how badly they carried their DEI banner, and they still have yet to admit they may have set the movement back decades.

The rise of “woke” culture, once a noble cause rooted in social justice and equality, has increasingly become an invasive, overbearing force in our society. What began as a movement to highlight issues of racism, sexism, and inequality has morphed into something far more toxic—an all-encompassing weapon used to punish dissent, silence disagreement, and control conversations across every corner of culture, from social media to politics and entertainment. Its unchecked growth has become not only divisive but suffocating.

First, it’s important to acknowledge that standing against bullying, discrimination, and inequality is crucial for a healthy society. No reasonable person would ever condone racism, sexual assault, or verbal abuse. But the current state of woke culture goes far beyond this core purpose. It demands ideological conformity, turning conversations into high-stakes moral tests. Simply disagreeing with the most recent narrative or questioning a popular cause can result in being labeled as a bigot, racist, or misogynist, regardless of the intent behind the words. It’s no longer about creating a safe space for dialogue but rather about canceling, shaming, and isolating those who dare to hold differing views.

Take a look at how the woke movement has infiltrated social media. Platforms that were once places for free exchange of ideas are now battlefields where individuals risk being “canceled” for expressing any thought that isn’t in alignment with the latest cultural orthodoxy. A single misstep—an ill-considered tweet, an unrefined opinion—can lead to professional ruin, public shaming, or a social media lynching. In this climate, people are afraid to speak their minds, and even the most well-meaning individuals are walking on eggshells, terrified of offending anyone, even unintentionally.

This behavior has only spread to other areas of life, from corporate boardrooms to Hollywood, where the pressure to conform is so intense that even the slightest deviation from woke orthodoxy can result in a career derailment. Films and TV shows are rewritten to meet the standards of “representation” and “diversity,” not for artistic value or storytelling, but for fear of backlash. This type of climate stifles creativity, as people become more concerned with pleasing the woke gatekeepers than producing work that is challenging, original, or thought-provoking.

From a pure business standpoint, the chaos that has ensued since the Trump Administration canceled any use of DEI in government-controlled facilities and businesses has ripped into the heart of the economy. Where some businesses have decided to buck the trend and continue with DEI efforts, many have simply rolled over and decided that capitulation is better for their bottom line. It goes without saying most businesses felt pressured to utilize DEI as they were told, when a more rationed manner of instituting such policies would not have led to such a failure.

Perhaps one of the most damaging effects of woke culture is how it has torn relationships apart. Families and friendships have fractured over ideological differences, as political correctness becomes an unbridgeable divide. Social media posts have replaced actual human conversations, and instead of discussing differing viewpoints, we now simply block, unfollow, or unfriend those who don’t align with our exact beliefs. This tribalism is creating a nation where the simple act of disagreeing has become a source of hostility.

Worse still, the very concepts of debate and critical thinking are being undermined by a culture that demands immediate and absolute agreement. This is where the woke agenda has gone too far—it’s not about progress anymore; it’s about power. The zeal to “correct” others, to force people to apologize for their existence or their opinions, has fostered an atmosphere of fear and compliance. Under this banner of moral superiority, people are no longer allowed to make mistakes, change their minds, or grow. Every word, every action is scrutinized, and the stakes are often impossibly high.

One set of stakes many are missing is that while "woke culture" may have gone too far, the rush into what Trump is pushing as "nationalism" is even worse.

This was not lost on Donald Trump and his Republican allies during the 2024 election. The Trump campaign skillfully weaponized the excesses of woke culture, highlighting the contradictions and extremism that were alienating large swaths of the electorate. Trump and his supporters capitalized on the overreach of woke culture to galvanize voters who felt alienated, afraid of losing their own ability to speak freely, and tired of the incessant moral policing. They used the growing division within the Democratic Party—exemplified by Kamala Harris’s association with the more radical elements of this movement—as a tool to sway independent voters, accusing her of being a puppet of the very forces that were causing division and resentment.

The result? Woke culture, intended to be a force for good, has turned into a weapon used to attack anyone who dares question the status quo. And rather than uniting people, it has done the opposite—dividing communities, families, and even entire political parties. There is a lesson here: it’s possible to care deeply about issues like racism, sexism, and inequality without falling into the trap of ideological extremism. True progress is about understanding, conversation, and the freedom to disagree without fear of retribution.

Then again, both sides must be wiling to talk it out. At the moment, we are s steel wall of non-rational discussion, and that wall is impenetrable.

The weaponization of woke culture has done more harm than good. It has silenced reasonable debate, destroyed relationships, and created a culture of fear where questioning anything is seen as a betrayal. The real solution is not doubling down on this one-size-fits-all approach, but rather fostering an environment where nuanced, respectful discussions can thrive.

Only then can we move beyond the divisive tactics of the extreme woke movement and begin to heal the fractures that threaten to break our society.

A society that, sadly, seems to already be broken without any possibility of repair.

America has been split asunder in the war over what is and what is not "woke", and Ed Berliner seeks to bring some semblance of non-biased thinking into what happened and what can be done to bring this country together. He appreciates and welcomes responses as to his opinion, and is always prepared to being this topic to meetings, conventions, events and those organizations seeking a fair and impartial discussion on the issue. Contact him at fuzzydogsproductions@gmail.com.