Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Scottsboro Boys | 20230220 | 20230417 (R4) | Matthew Syed traces the origins and evolution of the word 'woke', a term that's become synonymous with our era of angry debate. He begins with the first ever use of 'woke', appearing on a 1938 recording by the musician Lead Belly. The track, entitled 'Scottsboro Boys', describes the plight of nine young Black men wrongly accused of rape in Alabama in 1931. Matthew hears the story of the Scottsboro Boys, discovering how their case became became international symbol of race-based injustice and a nucleus of the US Civil Rights Movement. He looks into the extraordinary life of Lead Belly and uncovers what the singer meant when he instructed people to 'stay woke, keep their eyes open.` What relationship do these words have to the way 'woke' is used today? Featuring Peggy Parks Miller, niece of the Scottsboro Boy Clarence Norris, and Kip Lornell, Professor of Music, History & Culture at George Washington University and co-author of 'The Life and Legend of Leadbelly Matthew Syed traces the evolution of the word 'woke' from its first appearance in 1938. |
| 02 | If You're Woke You Dig It | 20230221 | 20230418 (R4) | Matthew Syed traces the origins and evolution of the word 'woke', a term that's become synonymous with our era of angry debate. In Episode 2 Matthew explores one of the first ever uses of 'woke' in print, by the young author William Melvin Kelley in 1962. Kelley wrote an article for the New York Times entitled 'If You're Woke You Dig It', observing the appropriation of Black idiom by Beatnik poets and artists. The satirical essay charts the progress of black slang into white communities, and proved prophetic on the destiny of the word 'woke' itself today. Matthew hears from William's daughter Jesi Kelley about her father's life, his mission to illuminate the white world to Black readers and his rediscovery as a 'lost giant of American literature'. The episode considers the idea of 'waking up' as a central metaphor for the movement for racial equality in the United States and its place in the last sermon Martin Luther King ever gave. Presented by Matthew Syed and Produced by Sam Peach Readings by Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong Excerpts from 'If You're Woke You Dig It' (New York Times, 1962) and 'Dunfords Travels Everywheres' by William Melvin Kelley Matthew Syed traces the evolution of a term that has become synonymous with angry debate. |
| 03 | #staywoke | 20230222 | 20230419 (R4) | Matthew Syed traces the origins and evolution of the word 'woke', a term that's become synonymous with our era of angry debate. In this episode, how the use of 'woke' online exploded in 2014, following the shooting of the black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was killed by a white police officer and his death sparked weeks of unrest, drawing worldwide attention to racial injustice in the United States. Much of the activity took place online and on Twitter #staywoke became recognised around the globe and galvanised the Black Lives Matter movement. The words urged citizens to remain aware of the threat of systemic racism. Matthew speaks to Johnetta Elzie, whose live-tweeting of the activity in Ferguson shot her to unexpected fame and made her a leader among the activists. He learns how her use of platform shaped Twitter's development, and considers its significance in the era of Elon Musk's ownership. Featuring Johnetta Elzie and Nicole Holliday, Asst. Professor Linguistics, Pomona College. Presented by Matthew Syed and Produced by Sam Peach Matthew Syed traces the evolution of a term that's synonymous with our era of angry debate |
| 04 | The Women's March | 20230223 | 20230420 (R4) | Matthew Syed traces the origins and evolution of the word 'woke', a term that's become synonymous with our era of angry debate. In this episode, Matthew looks into how the the adoption of 'woke' at the 2017 Women's March aided the term's movement away from black communities and into the mainstream. The day after the inauguration of Donald Trump, millions took to streets around the world to protest against the President's positions on the rights of women and other minorities. One photo became iconic from the march, a toddler with a banner round his neck reading 'I Love Naps, But I Stay Woke'. Matthew hears from Prisca Kim, the boy's mother, about the meaning behind the sign . Prisca tells Matthew how the image went viral and within days was being sold on t shirts and posters across the globe. He considers how the image formed part of a wider movement of 'woke' away from it's African American roots, asking how that impacted the word's meaning. Featuring Prisca Kim and Aja Romano, Culture Writer for Vox.com Presented by Matthew Syed and Produced by Sam Peach Matthew Syed traces the evolution of a term that's synonymous with our era of angry debate |
| 05 LAST | Where Woke Goes To Die | 20230224 | 20230421 (R4) | Matthew Syed traces the origins and evolution of a term that's become synonymous with our era of angry debate. In this final episode, Matthew looks into the actions of Governor Ron DeSantis, tipped by some to be the next President of the United States. The politician has labelled his state of Florida as 'Where Woke Goes To Die', introducing a 'Stop W.O.K.E.' bill aimed at reducing the spread of identity politics in education and the workplace. Matthew hears from Sam Rechek, the student who has successfully challenged the bill in the courts over its restriction to free speech. DeSantis is just one example of the embrace of 'woke' by the political right. As the word appears commonly in the media today, Matthew considers its multiple meanings, including whether it corresponds to a new set of ideas on the rise in society. Contributors: Nicole Holliday, linguist at Pomona College, writer James O'Malley, Prof Matthew Goodwin, University of Kent, Women of Keele Educate. Matthew Syed traces the evolution of a term that's synonymous with our era of angry debate |