I do have to have serious conversations with my stepson and my children about how not to get killed if they get pulled over. My husband frequently tells them to "stay woke," drawing from his own experiences as a Black man navigating an often hostile white world and from his multiple experiences being brutalized by the police, one of which led to a six-month stint in jail. My children must "stay woke" for their survival and I have recurring nightmares about them being killed at the hands of police or random shooters who have decided to take "justice" into their own hands. So yes, this is a personal topic for me and yes, it is something I've discussed at length with at least one Black activist, though of course, the Black community is not monolithic and his perspectives/experiences may differ from your own.

All that said, you and some other commenters have brought up some really good points that have made me reconsider and reflect. In all honestly, I'm not sure this story hit the intended angle. I've been wanting to write a piece for a while about my dismay over our dwindling collective curiosity. (The curiosity of my grandfather is indeed a privilege... and I write for people who read things on Medium, whom I believe share that privilege.) The co-opting of "woke" seemed to be an opportunity to delve into the dangers of labeling and rigid thinking. But I think I should have focused more on paying tribute to the origins of the word and calling attention to the ways it's been co-opted, rather than picking a bone over grammar to get at a related, but different point.

Thanks for taking the time to share your insightful thoughts and perspectives.