1 definition by West Indian Child

Sanctimonious elements of social reformism that seek to, or perpetuate the effects of, influencing society toward a state of perpetual offense to perceived threats or injustices (e.g., racism, sexism, sexuality bigotry) through the radicalization or subversion of universally-understood cultural or social norms.

Wokeness (as a term and mantra) originated within Negro communities as a reference to self-consciousness, spiritual acuity, keen awareness to the effects of paradigm shifts, and general preparedness and knowledgeability regarding unspoken, unseen influences and esoteric science concepts in addition to hidden history.

However, despite its non-socially-charged origins, the term itself, later reprised by Black social activists and appropriated by corporate America and entertainment media, gradually morphed alongside conflated social phenomena to involve extrinsic issues such as feminism, critical theory, homosexuality, climate activism (especially climate change alarmism), economic marginalization, intersectionality, and transgenderism.

Politically, wokeness underpins both progressive and liberal dogma and is - as defined by many of its critics - characterized by cult-like social adherence to Leftist social orthodoxy, which happens to be rooted in various Liberal socioeconomic models (i.e., "oppressor-oppressed"-type mores), albeit wokeness is not restricted by political inclination and is fundamentally ideological in nature.
Wokeness in sentences:

(Traditional, original usage): "The most powerful thing a brotha and sister can do is know thyself. Stay woke, y'all!"

(Modern usage): "Ever noticed how a lot of Hollywood series lately just feel empty or preachy? What's with all the sanctimonious virtue signaling and zero storytelling?" "To put it in a few words, they went woke. It's tearing not only entertainment, but western civilization apart and people hate or conflict with each other more than ever over issues we overcame and evolved past long ago that woke individuals and the corporations they influence obsess with."

"The closest proximation for wokeness as colloquy in the English language is problematization, a core function of wokeness."
by West Indian Child July 21, 2023
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