Erasing ‘Woke’ Isn’t Leadership — It’s Authoritarianism

There Have Been a Lot of Things on My Mind

There have been a lot of things on my mind over the last couple of days. I read something Trump said about “wokeness,” and I’ve been wrestling with that — what it means when a president tries to wipe away ideas like that.

First off, Trump has gone after museums, calling them “totally dominated by WOKE.” On Truth Social he posted: The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL… Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future. This Country cannot be WOKE. He’s demanded a sweeping review, removing “divisive” exhibits and replacing them with content that celebrates American exceptionalism — “success,” “brightness,” and “the future.” A formal letter even gave the Smithsonian 120 days to make changes.

And here’s the thing: when Trump says he’s going to “get rid of woke ideology,” he’s not just talking about words. He’s talking about people. I’m disabled, and I can tell you that kind of talk makes people like me nervous. Because who decides what counts as “woke”? If it means fighting for equity, inclusion, or justice, then it means pushing out disabled people, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ folks, women — anyone who doesn’t fit neatly into the story he wants told.

Other presidents have disagreed with ideas or programs before. That’s normal. But this? This is different. Saying “we’re going to get rid of woke” isn’t a policy stance, it’s a command. It’s not debate, it’s decree. It’s the language of authority, not democracy. And when a president frames dissenting views as something to be erased — that should terrify everyone.

Museums are supposed to be places where we confront and learn from the past — not fantasize it away with fairy tales and sunny narratives. As Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch put it: History is not about making us feel comfortable. It’s about making us understand. That’s the point. If we erase the bad parts — slavery, segregation, injustice — we bury our heads in the sand and guarantee we’ll repeat those mistakes.

It’s not just museums. The Trump administration has already abolished diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs across federal agencies. Websites have been purged, affinity groups shut down, even Black and LGBTQ history removed from government pages. Trump has bragged, We will banish woke ideology from our schools, our military, our government. We will restore sanity to American history.

That’s not leadership. That’s ideological control — trying to force an entire nation into one single narrative aligned with party-line beliefs. Most presidents believe in their ideas, sure, and they try to push their policies. But they don’t attempt to flip the entire cultural and historical landscape so only their views get airtime. That’s authoritarian impulse, not governance.

Damn it — this is supposed to be a free country. People will support or oppose Trump, and that’s okay. That’s democracy. But what he’s trying to do is force us into conformity — telling us what we’re allowed to believe, what history we’re allowed to remember, and what voices we’re allowed to hear. And if that doesn’t scare you, it should.

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By Vicki Andrada

A Little About Me I was born on February 25, 1972, in Flint, Michigan, at McLaren Hospital. I lived in Michigan until I was almost 40, then moved to Tampa, Florida, where I stayed for seven years. After that, I relocated to Arizona, living with friends in Glendale and then in Phoenix for about eight months. I spent two years total in Arizona before returning to Florida for a little over a year. Eventually, I moved back to Michigan and stayed with my parents for six months. In May of 2022, I moved to Traverse City, Michigan, where I’ve been ever since—and I absolutely love it. I never expected to return to Michigan, but I’m so glad I did. I was born blind and see only light and shadows. My fiancé, Josh, is also blind. We both use guide dogs to navigate independently and safely. My current Leader Dog is Vicki Jo , a four-year-old Golden Retriever/Black Lab mix. She’s my fourth guide dog—my first two were Yellow Labs, and my last two have been Golden/Lab crosses. Josh’s guide dog, Lou, came from the same organization where I got my previous dog—now known as Guide Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs. Josh and I live together here in Traverse City, and we both sing in the choir at Mission Hill Church , which was previously known as First Congregational Church. A lot of people still know it by that name. We both really enjoy being part of the choir—it’s something that brings us a lot of joy. I also love to read, write, and listen to music—especially 60s, 70s, and 80s music. Josh and I enjoy listening to music together and watching movies, especially when descriptive video is available. We also like working out at the YMCA a couple of times a week, which has been great for both our physical and mental health. I’m a big fan of Major League Baseball. My favorite team is the Detroit Tigers, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies. In the NFL, I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49ers—and I still have a soft spot for the Detroit Lions, especially now that they’ve started turning things around. I’m passionate about politics and history. I consider myself a progressive thinker, though I also try to take a balanced, middle-of-the-road approach. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ and a strong believer in respecting people of all faiths. I love learning about different religions, cultures, and belief systems. Writing is one of my biggest passions. I haven’t published anything yet, but I’ve written several books that are still in progress. Writing helps me express myself, explore new ideas, and connect with others through storytelling. Thanks for stopping by and getting to know a little about me.

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