Unfortunately labeling anything we disagree with politically as “woke” is also a great way to dismiss often valid concerns. The current political climate thanks to the GOP POTUS candidate that’s been the nominee for the last three elections has awakened me to how much racism has actually been there “despite appearances to the contrary” just waiting for some popular celebrity to give the permission to express itself more openly and unapologetically.

Before, if you weren’t the target of the bigotry, you never would see it. Just like so many people do not see domestic abuse because it only occurs in areas where it is safe for the abuser and the target feels psychologically trapped. Because who will believe her?

In the same way, we often do not detect the things that people are suffering around us if they do not feel safe enough to say it.

It’s not liberal to be aware that people suffer in silence right under our noses.