Welcoming the Unwoke

The key to the revolution is welcoming the people who are doing fine. These are middle class white people who believe that, with the defeat of overt racism and the election of Obama, racism has been beaten; that legal gay marriage means the victory if gay rights; who are fine with legal immigration and may even think Trump has gone too far. 

They certainly don't like racists for Trump but are also uncomfortable with identity politics and the politics of grievance. They have a healthy bit of lust in their hearts but would never harass a female coworker. They like to speak their minds and think that political correctness is about conformity, not the basic politeness of referring to people as they want to be called. They will admit privately to being a bit uncomfortable with having to keep up with the jargon of the woke.

They might even be part of an ethnic group that has been the victim of racist topic and may wince a bit if referred to that term. They would likely react strongly if the term was used by an outsider with examples. Perhaps we should remind them, just to wake them up (although if we do so, it may be good for the woke to be less edgy about it).

For example, I am a bipolar Catholic in recovery with German, Jewish (on my fraternal grandmother's side) and Roma (grandfather) roots. If a member of my tribe called me Crazy, Papist, Alky, Kraut, Kike or Gypsy, I would laugh  (even with derisive qualifiers like raving, mackerel snapper, drunk, cheap or crooked). If an outsider did so, I may winch at the name, but if I were prone to violence, I would lay him out on the floor if the qualifier were added. Note, I don't usually say the name of the Washington football team. Given the location of the Mets near Long Island, I wonder how their fans would feel about their being called the NY Kikes?

I was once fired for telling a joke (worse than the N-word, do not say the R-word). At the time, I worked at AMC and was referring to Regal. A colleague who minded or another who overheard and was more than happy to get rid of me.If the same managers had used that joke, they would have gotten away with it, because of their race and the fact that they did not believe that I am woke (I was a marshal in the 30th Anniversary March on Washington and senior member of Marion Barry's staff. Indeed, saying I was a civil rights worker ticked off one of the managers).

It was likely a stupid thing to say,. I have not worked since and am on disability, largely because I am over fifty (I should have probably sued for age discrimination) and have had two hospitalizations, so it all worked out.

A generation ago, many of the Unwoke would have reacted more stridently, not so much now. They probably wonder that if they can get over it, why not the woke. I can see why not, since real bigotry continues, especially in the Age of Trump. However, given its demographic, it is 20 funerals away from vanishing. I can say that, I am old.

That does not excuse them from being insensitive, but it should explain it. They bear no malice.

They don't like being told that they have White privilege, that they earned what they have. If they have any discomfort, it is that they have not yet hit their number. They miss the security of not having a guaranteed pension, but most of the upper middle class (who may even be sensitive on cultural issues) know they will be comfortable in retirement with a bit of frugality.

Sadly, they vote their economic interests, which had them hold their noses and vote for Trump. Most will not do so now - more than Trump suspects - especially the younger ones. The problem is that, if Trump is out, they may vote for Pence or look askance at voting for Warren (less so about Klobuchar).

We will not radicalize them by focusing on their Unwokeness or by scaring them about their economic futures. We need to welcome them so that we can offer them a better way for both themselves and their children, as well as the rest of us who are not so comfortable. The lower their economic status, the more likely they are to vote for the promise of the old days, which Trump and his reactionary supporters personify.

How? Remind them that the National Debt is not a per capita thing. What their children owe is based on how much they pay in income taxes. The Debt (and the liability for it) used to be six to nine times what they paid in income tax. The Great Recession made it 23, it went down to 13 after Obama let taxes on the wealthy go up in 2013. Trump has made it 18. That is not sustainable.

We also have to offer better cash and prizes, as well as a happier, more collegial workforce with everyone having pension rights once again, as well as access to as much education as they need, more control over their schools and public services, a better environment and a real ending of poverty. Also more rewards for being creative, rather than having their creativity be the property of the Executives and Shareholders that own their work.

Show them that their children are sure to have a better life, and make them feel welcome, instead of guilty, and they will gladly join the struggle. If not, as my still Jewish relatives would say, not so much.