“Woke”, like “Socialism”, is a rate bait word that Republicans refuse to define when asked to do so.  When I Googled a definition for Woke, the internet said to be woke is to believe that society is set up in a way that is inherently prejudiced against some minorities.  I certainly believe that is true, so I guess I am woke.  But Republicans want to believe every American has an equal opportunity in life; that belief allows them to look down upon and refuse social programs to those at the bottom of the economic pyramid.  Because, hey, everyone got an equal opportunity.  I’m successful today because I am a self made man!  It has nothing to do with the fact I had two parents that stayed together, prioritized that their children would have money for university educations, and always encouraged us to be high achievers in school.  Nope, it was all me./s

  I first noticed this on a personal level when our CIO resigned and two existing employees with a combined 40 years experience at the company were both turned down immediately because the company decided they had two qualifications, 1) a woman 2) from outside the company. They hired someone with zero technical knowledge and who also had a "it's my way or the highway" attitude and fast forward to two years later she was fired.

I remember looking up that the original birth of "Woke" was for the Black community during the Jim Crow laws in which it was basically telling them to "Stay Frosty". Back in I think 2016 I started hearing Woke from the White Liberal social groups to be used in anything with social inequalities and now it's been "hijacked" by the GOP as some god awful dog whistle for MAGA idiots.  Hate to say it but looks like white people are still taking black culture for themselves.

Woke and DEI are naturally coupled together to elicit rage and some kind of "victim" mentality in the Right.  Asshole Kirk on record said in a laughing manner  if he ever had to get a plane piloted by a black man he would be nervous and hope he's qualified.  If he believes his own bullshit or not, he still says shit like that to get traction.

DEI seems to sway whoever is in charge and it's all Corporations that  lead the way to come up with programs, I believe it was called Corporate Virtue Signaling.  With Biden Corps had the programs ready and with Trump suddenly business get rid of them.

Reminds me of a joke: What do you call a black man flying an airplane?

   The pilot. (why would it be anything else?)

I would say some people go to far by making EVERYTHING about race. But I seem to hear more from people who really think racism no longer exists, or is so tiny and minor that it can't affect anyone who isn't lazy.

DEI is an effort to make sure the system works the same for everyone. It isn't supposed to guarantee success, but it should allow everyone a seat at the table.

One more thing I noticed recently: conservatives telling Americans to "marry young and have more kids than you can afford". I think...would they say that to a black audience??