The phrase "Woke 1.0" has gained traction in recent weeks, with a Guardian columnist noting its use to describe the period between 2018 and 2021. This era is characterised by the peak of social justice language in mainstream culture.
Certain progressives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have begun using "Woke 1.0" disparagingly. Ocasio-Cortez, when asked about past controversial statements, quoted a local city councilman saying, "Woke 1.0 was crazy." She added that rhetoric from the lockdown period is "not rhetoric that we would use today."
New York City councilmember Chi Ossé is credited with coining the phrase in May. His original post on X stated, "Woke 1 was crazyyyy."