Interesting observations here - and I was briefly taken to task by SC for use of the term ‘woke’ in my writing. She informed me that it was very much a signal of social conservatism and by implication I’d become a member of the Republican Party. For a lefty like me, that was a bit of an eye opener - but over here in the U.K. the word doesn’t carry the same connotations.

It was exported here and used extensively by super keen teens devoid of context, devoid of any real understanding of its history, etymology or political ramifications. I had more than one conversation with ‘woke’ people who had no idea who Malcolm X was and who seemed unaware of the Windrush. In those situations the term was self was self pejorative and indicative of the sort of person who imports American politics without understanding American history. An easy way to spot someone who prefers virtue signal over critical thinking.

That may be why both I, and the Garrulous Glaswegian fall down the language gap. We are both socialists, left of Bernie Sanders, criticising what we’d consider to be centre-right self indulgence masquerading as liberalism. We are square pegs in the round hole of US viewpoints and many people undergo the sort of journey of realisation you’ve described with my work. Some people also go the other way… delighted to find someone critiquing the left only to find out at the last minute I’m a filthy socialist. It makes for an active comment box.

I don’t mind using the term woke as an insult. Anyone who is aware of the complexities inherent in building a world free from racism should quickly work out I’m not the enemy. They’re woke enough to know that woke got hijacked and misused and the critique isn’t aimed at them. The word was already broken when it reached these emerald shores and so I’ve no problem smacking it around and sending it back.

It sounds like you’re on quite a journey and one that seems worthwhile. Get yourself some Jung and kick back for a while :o)