Inside Cal State Long Beach: Are we too woke?
CSULB President Jane Close Conoley writes about the university’s relationship with “wokeness.” The term "woke" has been used as a term for being politically and socially aware, but it has evolved into a narrow definition of being absorbed in racial and social justice issues. The term was often linked to endorsing critical race theory and accepting a continuum of sexual identities. In many states, books and K-16 curricula were banned if they dealt with race, sexuality, or explored systemic forms of discrimination, such as segregation or redlining. University offices established to create welcoming environments for all students were defunded. At Cal State Long Beach, the school values inclusivity and believes that students who feel they belong at The Beach are more likely to be successful and graduate. The author argues that being different is not a bad thing and that being alert is a crucial element of good teaching and good living.
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At some point between 2010 and 2019 I began to hear about being “woke.” The first use of the word meant being politically and socially aware. Being a person who understood how the “real world” worked.
Over time, however, being woke took on a narrower meaning of being absorbed in racial and social justice issues. Through political processes woke became linked with endorsing critical race theory and accepting a continuum of sexual identities.
In many U.S. states, children’s and young adult books and K-16 curricula were banned if they dealt with race, sexuality, or explored systemic forms of discrimination, for example, segregation or redlining. University offices set up to create welcoming climates for all students were defunded.
While the term woke began as an attempt to describe being attentive to societal facts and issues that differentially affect marginalized identity groups, the term was transformed. Woke was often viewed as a threat to people’s well-being. For example, learning accurate history, which is necessary to understand racial and social justice issues, became labeled as indoctrination.
At Cal State Long Beach, we value inclusivity. We want people of all colors, religions, abilities, national origins, political beliefs, sexual identities, socio-economic levels and all the combinations that such differences create to feel welcome. We know that students who feel they belong at The Beach are much more likely to be successful and to graduate. Employees who feel valued and listened to stay with us longer and are more productive.
In the same way we smooth our physical environment so that people in wheelchairs or those who have visual constraints can traverse the campus, we work to smooth the way for others to be successful. Being different is not a bad thing. As the old saying, “different strokes for different folks” implies, one size doesn’t fit all in classrooms or in life.
Students learn differently. They come to us with personal histories that affect their academic, social, and personal development. To the extent that we can attend to and value differences, we increase the chances that students and others will flourish.
A phrase linked to being woke is being “politically correct.” I think this label is used when others think that our language is not authentic; that we’re being too careful with what we say to avoid offending others. In fact, I strive never to be offensive but always to be authentic. I will be blunt at times but never use racial epitaphs or slurs; always call people the names they have chosen; and strive always to see and hear the person not the stereotype.
And I am aware of that our systems of justice, finance, and education have often been tainted with discrimination toward groups who were not in powerful, decision-making positions. Just consider the fate of Native Americans who suffered through endless broken treaties and forced assimilation atrocities in Indian boarding schools if you are doubtful about past wrongdoings.
Being woke is now thought of as being too liberal and too critical of the United States. I have learned, however, that I can love something or someone even as I see flaws. I don’t have to love blindly. I can learn from history, even be ashamed of some national or personal history, yet still love my country and myself.
Rather than woke, I’d rather describe Beach community members as alert to what others may require for their success. Such alertness seems a fundamental element of good teaching and good living. Stay alert.