Description Hide Description- Show Description+
Society has never been more egalitarian — in theory. Prejudice is taboo, and diversity is strongly valued. At the same time, social and economic inequality have exploded. In We Have Never Been Woke, Musa al-Gharbi argues that these trends are closely related, each tied to the rise of a new elite — the symbolic capitalists. In education, media, nonprofits, and beyond, members of this elite work primarily with words, ideas, images, and data, and are very likely to identify as allies of antiracist, feminist, LGBTQ, and other progressive causes. Their dominant ideology is 'wokeness' and, while their commitment to equality is sincere, they actively benefit from and perpetuate the inequalities they decry. Indeed, their egalitarian credentials help them gain more power and status, often at the expense of the marginalised and disadvantaged.
We Have Never Been Woke details how the language of social justice is increasingly used to justify this elite — and to portray the losers in the knowledge economy as deserving their lot because they think or say the 'wrong' things about race, gender, and sexuality. Al-Gharbi’s point is not to accuse symbolic capitalists of hypocrisy or cynicism. Rather, he examines how their genuine beliefs prevent them from recognising how they contribute to social problems — or how their actions regularly provoke backlash against the social justice causes they champion.
A powerful critique, We Have Never Been Woke reveals that only by challenging this elite’s self-serving narratives can we hope to address social and economic inequality effectively.
Author: Musa al-Gharbi
Hardback Published 1 February 2025 432 pages
Read and Recommended by Hendri:
"In this thought-provoking book, American sociologist Musa al-Gharbi explores the contradictions between the rise of "wokeness" and persisting inequalities. He argues that this trend is deeply rooted in symbolic expressions—manifested through words, ideas, and images—which, while valuable, often become the primary focus of social justice causes. The overemphasis on these symbolic gestures, unfortunately, deepens inequalities by providing a smokescreen for elites to use social justice language to advance their own interests. As a result, these cultural elites strategically use "wokeness" to reinforce their class status. To trace the historical development of woke ideas and actions, he provides a detailed analysis of how they have evolved, gained momentum, and then faded at particular moments. These fluctuations are closely tied to the shifting interests of elite groups, who embrace wokeness when it serves their goals and abandon it once those goals are achieved. A searing critique is also directed at the tendency of individuals to leverage their connection to certain marginalised groups. While such connections can contribute to social movements, the voices that gain prominence are often those that conform to elitist approaches, while more critical and dissenting voices are sidelined. This book is exactly what we need right now—a sharp, timely, and profound critique of the contradictions within contemporary social justice movements. At a time when discussions around "wokeness" dominate public discourse and are now being challenged by the rise of conservatism, Musa al-Gharbi offers a self-reflection that exposes the limit of our existing approach that will inspire us to move forward with greater awareness to create more lasting changes."
'[We Have Never Been Woke] announces [al-Gharbi] as a rising intellectual star.' – David Brooks, New York Times
'A sharp, well-researched critique aimed at politically active readers who want to better understand why people believe what they believe.' – Library Journal