Being aware of the way systemic issues shape power and people. To be awake (woke) to the fact that these systems have unjustly treated people in the past and how they continue to shape all of us going forward. As much as we might like to have everyone treated equally, it is not the case and we need to be aware of it. Once we’re aware of this injustice we should work in some way to change the systems of our society and economy.

Many people who would like the current systems to continue unaltered despite past, current, and future societal failings consider themselves anti woke because they don’t want any process of change to improve things if it benefits anyone but themselves.