Make America Woke Again

We need to start paying attention again, actually, we need to make America WOKE AGAIN, like woke in 2020, woke in 2016, woke in 2008, especially woke in the 1960s. The United States is sliding dangerously close to authoritarianism, and Donald Trump’s actions make it clear he sees himself more as a king than a president. Extravagant plans, like turning parts of the White House into a golden ballroom, signal he wants power far beyond what this country was designed for.

Americans must wake up to the lies behind the so-called American Dream. Too many have stopped caring, protesting, and reading, while misinformation spreads unchecked. Anti-intellectualism is on the rise, people trust statements simply because they’re bolded without checking reputable sources. Misinformation thrives on silence and apathy. Trump’s worshippers ignore that he only seems to care about supporters with wealth and power. And let’s not forget his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, a fact survivors have confirmed, yet the full files remain hidden from public view.

Critical thinking is more important now than ever, especially when it comes to politics. Being blind to what’s happening in government, policies, and elections will eventually come back to bite you. We cannot afford to tune out and let others decide the fate of our democracy. Part of staying informed is disconnecting from social media distractions and focusing on deeper learning. Reading books on history, politics, philosophy, or social issues is one of the best ways to fight anti-intellectualism and build perspective. It allows us to question what we’re told, see patterns, and understand the forces shaping our country. I’ll be sharing a list of books at the end to help anyone who wants to stay informed and enlightened.

The urgency is real. A MAGA supporter killed two Democratic politicians in Minnesota. Detention centers are being built in Florida and El Salvador. MAGA 2028 merchandise is already circulating. The government even considered altering the Constitution to erase Trump’s impeachment history. Challenges to same-sex rights are before the Supreme Court, while some Democratic leaders seem hesitant or fatigued. Now is not the time to give up. Americans must protect one another, unite, and demand accountability from their leadership.

The midterms are critical. A Democratic majority in the House could block Republican initiatives and halt the dangerous trajectory of Project 2025 policies. If we fail to resist the rise of fascism, we will regret it. Community must come first, we cannot let prejudice divide us while the true threat sits in the White House, surrounded by loyal enablers.

The alt-right wants to drag America back to a time defined by whiteness, erasing progress and equality. This nation was built on contradictions, genocide against Native Americans, slavery, and waves of European immigration, but also resilience, struggle, and the contributions of marginalized groups. To turn our backs on diversity is to turn our backs on the true American ideal. Freedom, the freedom to be yourself, build a better life, and create opportunities for future generations, is the real American Dream worth fighting for.

Martin Luther King Jr. said it best:  

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

His words remind us that the fight for a more united, compassionate, and just America is urgent, and it begins with us.

Participation in Politics

• Voting

• Donating money to campaigns

• Signing petitions

• Attending political meetings like townhalls

• Posting and commenting

• Sending emails to officials

• Lobbying legislators

• Working on a campaign

• Participate in protest marches

• Staying informed about what's happening in politics means researching and learning.

Books That Will Wake You Up:

How Democracies Die by Daniel Ziblatt & Steven Levitsky

Imagine a country where political leaders slowly start ignoring norms: courts are undermined, elections are questioned, and political opponents are demonized. Ziblatt and Levitsky show how democracies crumble not with sudden coups but through everyday erosion of rules, like watching a slow leak that eventually drains the life out of a system.

The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

Rothstein tells the story of American housing not as accidents of culture but as deliberate government policies. From redlining to restrictive covenants, the book shows how laws built segregation into neighborhoods, making inequality a product of design, not chance

Unequal by Michael Eric Dyson & Marc Favreau

Dyson and Favreau put you in the shoes of families navigating a world stacked against them. From schools to jobs to neighborhoods, inequality isn’t abstract, it’s a daily reality. Unequal makes you feel the frustration, the barriers, and the resilience of people living in a system that isn’t built for everyone.

Poverty by America by Matthew Desmond

Desmond walks readers into the homes of people living paycheck to paycheck. Through vivid portraits of struggle, he exposes a society where poverty is not accidental but systematically reinforced by policies, showing how easily people are trapped in cycles of scarcity.

Women, Race, and Class by Angela Davis

Picture women at the frontlines of history, Black, white, and working-class, fighting for suffrage, equality, and labor rights. Davis weaves their stories together, showing how race and class shape their struggles, and how the victories of some often leave others behind.

Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis

Through stories from Palestine to South Africa, Davis reminds us that liberation is never isolated. Freedom movements are linked, and justice requires solidarity. The book reads like a call to action, showing that the fight for equality is ongoing and interconnected.

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Alexander paints a vivid picture of modern-day mass incarceration. Following the War on Drugs, generations of Black men are trapped in a system that strips their rights and opportunities, revealing how racism persists even after the end of Jim Crow laws.

Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

Kendall challenges the idea that feminism only serves privileged women. She shares stories of women worrying about hunger, safety, and education, issues often ignored in mainstream feminism, showing that real liberation must address the daily struggles of marginalized communities.

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Oluo breaks down difficult conversations with real-life examples: microaggressions at work, biased policing, and everyday racial assumptions. She shows that talking about race is messy and uncomfortable, but necessary to create understanding.

Let This Radicalize You by Kelly hayes & Mariame Kaba

Hayes and Kaba tell stories of ordinary people becoming radicalized by injustice. From protests to community organizing, the book emphasizes the personal transformations that occur when one recognizes systemic oppression and chooses to fight it.

1984 by George Orwell

Imagine waking up in a world where Big Brother is always watching. Winston Smith, a man quietly questioning authority, tries to hold onto love, thought, and freedom. Orwell captures the suffocating fear and control of totalitarianism in a society where even your thoughts can be a crime.

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

Starr Carter witnesses her best friend’s death at the hands of the police. Navigating two worlds, her poor, mostly Black neighborhood and her mostly white private school, Starr must find her voice to speak truth in a world that often silences the marginalized.

Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks

Imagine a room full of women sharing their struggles, low pay, being ignored, or judged for their choices. bell hooks’ Feminism Is for Everybody reminds us that feminism isn’t just for some, it’s for everyone. It’s about fairness, respect, and equality, and showing that everyday challenges are part of the bigger fight for justice.