Woke Antisemitism: How a Progressive Ideology Harms Jews

by David L. Bernstein

Woke ideology is a radical’s pathway to power. As we’ve seen repeatedly over the decades, woke ideology picks up steam when moderate ideologues pave the way for more extreme ideologues, and moderate illiberalism gives rise to more extreme illiberalism. Not only are such standpoint claims illiberal, they’re also divorced from reality. First, not all “marginalized” voices agree with each other. For example, Black people—like all people—are politically diverse. According to Pew Research, more than 60 percent of Black people oppose affirmative action in higher education.72 The vast majority aren’t woke. The woke notion of “making space” tends to mean platforming minority voices that reflect progressive pieties and ignoring or pillorying all the rest. Second, marginalized people—like all people—are sometimes wrong. Some impart earth-shattering truths while others spread lies and become bullies and predators themselves. Lived experience, while important, is just one data point in understanding social reality. As a Jewish person who has experienced antisemitism, I have insight into Jew-hatred that others should listen to. But I cannot