It was in college in the mid to late 1980’s at Morehead State University where I was first exposed to the Liberal Agenda. Located deep in the Appalachian Mountains Morehead is where I opened up to the diversity of our world. You could assert, and you would be correct that college corrupted me. My brainwashing effectively carried out through the systematic offerings of subversive classes like sociology, the history of social work, cultural anthropology, psychology and minority relations. Those Radar Hall classes that taught me about advocating for marginalized groups, meeting people where they are, and accepting others’ right to self-determination. It was in the mountains that I learned what it meant to be “Woke.”
Growing up in a household and community of conservative “family values” in southern Ohio, a community on the edge of Appalachia, I didn’t have to go very far away to be influenced by the “left.” It was almost too easy to give up my conservative views and wholly adopt the tree hugging, bleeding heart liberal views of my left leaning professors. You can see how academia took hold of my naïve and malleable mind, turning it from the right to the wrong.
But the seeds of my betrayal were sewn long before I set foot on that beautiful campus in Eastern Kentucky. My third class participated in what I remember as the “Kids Can Vote” campaign. My parents were of course strong backers of Gerald Ford. This is where I first made a move away from the ideology of my family. Our class held its own election, and I happily and defiantly cast my vote for Jimmy Carter. After the election our class wrote letters to President Carter and I, along with my classmates got a letter back from the White House. I was so proud of that letter.
Life went along and I adopted the more conservative views of my parents and my community. There was always a part of me that felt uncomfortable with what to my teenage ears seemed unkind treatment of people who were not white like me. I felt it deep inside, but I also wanted to be accepted and loved so I tried to stifle these feelings of discontent. Until I got to college and found adults that were articulating views that seemed to be kind and caring and less judgmental.
Fast forward to the present. Here I am a middle age white woman, mother of some amazing adult kids, still married to my soulmate, and living my best “woke” life. And yet, because my husband was a pastor for thirty plus years, I get lumped in with a group I no longer feel any kind of connection with. I recently had a triggering experience while getting my hair cut. I was with a new stylist, and she asked what brought me to Chillicothe and I out of habit rattled off Kurt being the pastor at Trinity. That was all this very kind, very evangelical person needed to start telling all about her life in the church, her wonderful family that “loves the Lord,” and the things God is teaching her. She saw me as a kindred spirit, and I wanted to crawl under the chair. It seems being Christian today means something different than it used to. All the “woke” parts of my life in opposition to the church not in solidarity with it.
The term “woke” has its origins in the African American community where it was used to encourage people to be aware and alert to racial prejudice and discrimination. It goes back to the 1930’s when you might hear the admonition to “stay woke.” Over the years the term has been used to encompass all sorts of social injustice.
Being a social worker is a “woke” profession. Being a counselor is too. The code of ethics to which I am bound clearly define the values counselors uphold.
The Code emphasizes core professional values, including:
Enhancing human development throughout the lifespan
Honoring diversity and promoting inclusivity
Advocating for social justice
Safeguarding the integrity of the counselor-client relationship
Practicing competently and ethically
The 2025 version of the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics actually places even more emphasis on cultural competence and diversity.
If we are paying attention. If we are listening, the Liberal Agenda can basically be summed up as being “woke.” It is hurled as a hateful reproach. It sounds so scary, and radical, doesn’t it? Something so far left of center that it must be evil or linked to the moral demise of our society. But do you know what the liberal agenda is? Do you know what it actually means to be “woke?”
As I see it being “woke” means taking care of people. It means feeding school age children. It means giving children and adults with disabilities access to services that can help them be successful. It means recognizing the value in others. It means giving women the right to be fully in charge of their own lives and health care decisions. It means having empathy for others regardless of their difference. It means seeing people’s humanity and starting there. It means advocating for safety nets to catch our most vulnerable citizens. It means overseeing the safety of workers on the job. It means protections for consumers. It means making sure our food is safe, as well as our air and our water. It means being there when the worst things happen, like floods and hurricanes and tornados and wildfires.
This is what it means to be “woke” and this is what it means to be a part of the liberal adenda. And who benefits from the liberal agenda? All of us.
I learned a lot in my 4 years at Morehead State University. I found my place alongside the liberal minds of my professors and later colleagues in my profession. I may not belong anymore in the world of many Christian folks. My ideology is different my theology is different too. If caring for others makes me “woke” then I will proudly stand and accept that title with a smile.
Amen, sister!
Woke, but I sometimes need a nap! 😁
Nicely said. Thanks.