AP Spotlight How 'woke' went from an expression in Black culture to a conservative criticism TERRY TANG Associated Press Oct 1, 2025 Oct 1, 2025 Updated Apr 6, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The expression "stay woke" started as an affirmation for African Americans.kAmx? 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E@ D=FCD 5@6D?VE 3@E96C 96C[ D96 D2:5]k^AmkAm%@ 96C[ H@<6 :D 23@FE 2H2C6?6DD] Q(92E :E C62==J 3@:=D 5@H? E@ :D 96=A:?8 A6@A=6 56G6=@A 2 >@C6 24FE6 =6G6= @7 6>@E:@?2= :?E6==:86?46[Q D96 D2:5]k^AmkAm000k^AmkAmk6>mpDD@4:2E65 !C6DD HC:E6C r9C:DE@A96C |686C:2? :? (2D9:?8E@? 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^6>mk^Am 0 Comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story At America's national parks in the Trump era, the arc of history bends toward revisionism Trump's campaign to have the government tell a happier story of American history confronts its toughest challenge. 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