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Liberté, Wokisme, Fraternité? Why France and the U.S. Can’t Agree on Social Justice
Two nations, two histories, and one cultural divide over identity politics
The Woke Awakening: Where It All Began
The word woke once meant alertness to social injustices. Born in the U.S. from the Civil Rights era, wokeness referred to vigilance against racism and systemic inequality. It evolved alongside movements like Black Lives Matter, growing into a broader fight against gender inequality, LGBTQ+ rights denial, and colonial legacies.
In the U.S., activism thrives on identity. Race, gender, and sexuality act as the lenses through which Americans examine privilege and oppression. Concepts like Critical Race Theory (CRT) and intersectionality shape debates in schools, workplaces, and media. Activists say these tools expose power structures and dismantle systemic biases. Critics claim they divide society and fuel a “cancel culture” obsessed with grievances.
But while Americans passionately embrace or reject wokeness, the French watch with skepticism. In France, calls for racial or gender-based identities clash with the country’s founding ideals.
France and America started on different roads, and their cultural destinations…
