Are you `woke’ or asleep to social justice

Charlie Chaplin once said “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” Life around my dad, Lester Corbin, was filled with jokes, teasing and what became known as “Lester’isms.” Raised around the humor of Red Skelton, Redd Foxx, Jonathan Winters, Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Laurel and Hardy plus a subscription to MAD Magazine, I was programmed to seek out laughter.

If these comedians were living, their take on the GOP’s “cancel woke culture” would even make card-carrying Republicans laugh. There are over 400 companies, products and individuals GOP party leaders are calling to be “canceled” (i.e., boycotted) because they either questioned Donald Trump’s leadership or took a stance on racism, sexuality, gender, race, diversity, equity, inclusion, social injustices, wellness and life balance that counters Republican values. Here are some examples:

United, American and Delta Air Lines? Canceled!

Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz car rental? Canceled!

McDonalds, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Cracker Barrel, Golden Corral, Taco Bell, IHOP and Red Lobster? Canceled!

Sports lovers: NFL, NBA and MLB? Canceled!

HBO and Netflix? Canceled!

French fries? Yes, French fries. Canceled!

Harley-Davidson? Couldn’t be. Canceled!

Hershey, Procter & Gamble, Kelloggs, Nabisco, Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola? Canceled!

It’s ironic the Republican Party purports to believe in free enterprise yet are opposed to corporations’ pro-environmental, pro-social and pro-governance (ESG) factors of running a successful business. Plus, GOP candidates must be oblivious to the fact that the majority of registered Republicans support corporations’ ESG endeavors (Center for American Progress Action Fund).

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “woke” as being “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues — especially issues of racial and social justice” (2021). Being woke is about being alert to racial prejudice and discrimination, being vigilant toward social issues and challenging oppression.

Martin Luther King once said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Racial and social justice issues matter.

The younger strata of America (Millennials; ages 27-42 and Generation Z; ages 11-26) are America’s most pro-woke culturally aware group who are fighting for social justice, equal rights and equal opportunity. Next, they are the most active social media users who readily broadcast their fight against injustice, intolerance and discrimination. Finally, Millennials are the largest electorate population and Gen. Z voter turnout in 2022 was higher than that of Gen. X’ers (43-58 age range) and Millennials.

What most Republican presidential candidates aren’t grasping issues like gender pay gap, gender discrimination, racial inequality, racial injustice, LGBTQIA rights, sexual harassment, sexual assault, environmental and climate change, First Amendment rights, book banning, fair voter registration and unencumbered voting opportunity.

Americans must be compassionately woke to racial and social justice issues. Otherwise, you must be asleep. Are you woke or asleep?

Steve Corbin is professor emeritus of marketing at the University of Northern Iowa.