What AOC gets right – and wrong – about ‘Woke 1.0’ | Francine Prose
Recent comments by AOC have reignited a fiery debate about ‘wokeism’. But what are we really talking about? Full confession: I am one of those who have come to think that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez can essentially do no wrong. At times when I most fear for the future of our country, I watch her videos and am consoled and cheered by her clarity, her honesty, her intelligence, her simple common…
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, commonly known as AOC, has sparked a heated discussion surrounding the concept of "wokeism." However, the definition of what exactly this term encompasses remains a subject of contention. It is important to note that the author of this piece, Francine Prose, finds herself in agreement with AOC's perspective, even in moments when she is most apprehensive about the future of the nation.
It is during these times that AOC's speeches and interviews offer her solace and inspiration, as she perceives her as a beacon of clarity, candor, intellect, and pragmatic wisdom. Consequently, Prose was taken aback when she heard AOC reference a political ally's comment, stating that "Woke 1.0 was crazy." What initially astounded her was not her call for a moderation of the more radical positions, such as defunding the police and military, but rather her utilization of the word "woke" itself.
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