Waking up to the 'Anti-Woke' Agenda

Educators face a reality that was unimaginable a few years ago: inclusivity is now a dirty word; anti-racist actions are labelled discrimination and lies have become a convenient substitute for facts, reality, logic, and decency. It is, indeed, dystopian and mirrors a worldwide trend towards authoritarianism (McNeill 2023). In the USA, Thomas Jefferson's vision of a vibrant and accessible public education for rich and poor as the fundamental safeguard of a fledgling American democracy is under attack (Jewett 1997). The weapon of choice: laws and policies that erode the democratic foundations and commitments of public education. Foregrounding House Bill 7 (HB7), the "Individual Freedom Act" (2022) nicknamed as the 'Stop-WOKE' [Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees] Act, this essay traces the intent and tactics underlying this legislative agenda to lay the groundwork for how one responds -- individually, collectively and institutionally -- in these challenging contexts.