The original meaning of “woke” is to awaken after sleep, of course, but the word now has picked up other social connotations. The Oxford English Dictionary says, “woke had been extended figuratively to refer to being ‘aware’ or ‘well informed’ in a political or cultural sense.”

Being woke is viewed positively by Unitarian Universalists. They value social justice, so they want to be knowledgeable about what’s going on within their own community and within the wider society around them.

In previous centuries, injustices needing attention were more obvious, such as when women and people of color couldn’t vote.  Now, we need to look deeper if we are to recognize where our social systems still are embedded with privilege or oppression.

UUs seek to take up this challenge.  Internally, they examine their own history, theology, and practices to identify ways they might have perpetuated injustice within their own tradition.  They also work to identify and disrupt any disrespectful or damaging systems and attitudes in their wider societal context.

For example, at the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship a “Widening the Circle” program exists to educate and inspire-to-action its members regarding injustices suffered by marginalized people—neighbors whose race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disabilities, or other surface characteristics limit their potential or freedom.

Together, gradually, imperfectly, UUs use their wokeness as inspiration to build communities and practices of inclusion, care, growth, and love.