1/
While activists disrupt, dismantle and deconstruct everything from art to tech, Corporations are going woke.
Why? Because despite the woke rhetoric about "income inequality," there is ZERO ideological conflict between wokeness and capitalism. None.
I'll explain
A thread🧵
While activists disrupt, dismantle and deconstruct everything from art to tech, Corporations are going woke.
Why? Because despite the woke rhetoric about "income inequality," there is ZERO ideological conflict between wokeness and capitalism. None.
I'll explain
A thread🧵
2/
Thinking wokeness is opposed to capitalism is a mistake made by both the woke, and by those opposed to wokeness.
In fact, wokeness is a major driver of capitalism, and according to McKinsey more than 8 BILLION dollars was spent on diversity training in 2017.
Thinking wokeness is opposed to capitalism is a mistake made by both the woke, and by those opposed to wokeness.
In fact, wokeness is a major driver of capitalism, and according to McKinsey more than 8 BILLION dollars was spent on diversity training in 2017.
3/
The woke say they're opposed to capitalism because it produces income inequality, but then they engage in the most vulgar capitalism you ever saw in your life. Here, AOC complains about income inequality, wears a $3,500 wardrobe for a magazine shoot, and then defends herself🤣
The woke say they're opposed to capitalism because it produces income inequality, but then they engage in the most vulgar capitalism you ever saw in your life. Here, AOC complains about income inequality, wears a $3,500 wardrobe for a magazine shoot, and then defends herself🤣
4/
The previous generation of the social justice left was similar.
Adbusters Magazine was produced to fight against brands like Nike, in hopes of putting a dent in the conformist culture they said resulted from capitalism.
They now have their own brand of VERY expensive sneakers.
The previous generation of the social justice left was similar.
Adbusters Magazine was produced to fight against brands like Nike, in hopes of putting a dent in the conformist culture they said resulted from capitalism.
They now have their own brand of VERY expensive sneakers.
5/
This is because for both the counterculture from 1960-2010 (Hippies, Punks, etc), AND woke culture from about 2010 until now Capitalism works.
Why?
Because none of their core values or ideological commitments are actually at odds with the functional requirements of capitalism.
This is because for both the counterculture from 1960-2010 (Hippies, Punks, etc), AND woke culture from about 2010 until now Capitalism works.
Why?
Because none of their core values or ideological commitments are actually at odds with the functional requirements of capitalism.
6/
The woke may disagree with how current capitalists operate, but wokies have no problem with buying and selling goods in and of itself. No woke person ever turned down an opportunity to get paid. Ever.
Here Shaun King Bashes capitalism while charging $21,000 for a speech
The woke may disagree with how current capitalists operate, but wokies have no problem with buying and selling goods in and of itself. No woke person ever turned down an opportunity to get paid. Ever.
Here Shaun King Bashes capitalism while charging $21,000 for a speech
7/
This is why Layla Saad, author of "Me and White Supremacy," has absolutely no problem selling her book (forward by Robin Diangelo, who we will get to) but also selling a variety of 90 minute online courses for $97 each.
This is why Layla Saad, author of "Me and White Supremacy," has absolutely no problem selling her book (forward by Robin Diangelo, who we will get to) but also selling a variety of 90 minute online courses for $97 each.
8/
Wokies often claim to be against capitalism, but this is because woke is think capitalism is a system of exploitation connected to slavery. The objection that they actually have to capitalism is that it enforces racism. Where they do not see racism, they have no objection.
Wokies often claim to be against capitalism, but this is because woke is think capitalism is a system of exploitation connected to slavery. The objection that they actually have to capitalism is that it enforces racism. Where they do not see racism, they have no objection.
9/
Now, it is true wokies can read racism into anything, but they key is that they do not read racism into THEIR capitalist ventures.
This is why @DrIbram says you can't separate capitalism from racism while he appears in advertising for McDonald's while selling books on Amazon.
Now, it is true wokies can read racism into anything, but they key is that they do not read racism into THEIR capitalist ventures.
This is why @DrIbram says you can't separate capitalism from racism while he appears in advertising for McDonald's while selling books on Amazon.
10/
@timjacobwise is open about this. He while current capitalism compromises us all, the problem is not the buying and selling of things, but rather the power relations in HOW the exchange is done and if there is income inequality.
Tim Charges $10,000-$20,000 per speech.
@timjacobwise is open about this. He while current capitalism compromises us all, the problem is not the buying and selling of things, but rather the power relations in HOW the exchange is done and if there is income inequality.
Tim Charges $10,000-$20,000 per speech.
11/
The concern over power relations is why the woke always get more radical as they sell things. If they don't continue to radicalize they become the "status quo", which is not allowed because in wokeness if you become the entrenched "status quo" you become the oppressor.
The concern over power relations is why the woke always get more radical as they sell things. If they don't continue to radicalize they become the "status quo", which is not allowed because in wokeness if you become the entrenched "status quo" you become the oppressor.
12/
The woke have a very strong moral objection to ever become the entrenched "status quo" sitting at the top of "the system" in society, so they must always guard themselves to remain radical.
@deray makes this point before giving a talk sponsored by Wells Fargo
The woke have a very strong moral objection to ever become the entrenched "status quo" sitting at the top of "the system" in society, so they must always guard themselves to remain radical.
@deray makes this point before giving a talk sponsored by Wells Fargo
13/
When "fighting racism" or doing some other work of wokeness getting paid is encouraged. This is often done while claiming capitalism is evil (by a woke definition). Here, Robin Diangelo trashes capitalism while charging $20,000 per speech and $340 for a phone consultation.
When "fighting racism" or doing some other work of wokeness getting paid is encouraged. This is often done while claiming capitalism is evil (by a woke definition). Here, Robin Diangelo trashes capitalism while charging $20,000 per speech and $340 for a phone consultation.
14/
Getting clout is just as important as getting paid as this allows you to preach wokeness.
Here Colin Kaepernick gets paid millions of dollars for Nike Ads discussing how he gave up other millions of dollars in football before he did another million dollar deal with Disney.
Getting clout is just as important as getting paid as this allows you to preach wokeness.
Here Colin Kaepernick gets paid millions of dollars for Nike Ads discussing how he gave up other millions of dollars in football before he did another million dollar deal with Disney.
15/
Remember, the Woke place massive importance on the discourse as in their view discourses are how structures of power are made and dismantled. Here Jemele Hill gets paid by Disney to help Colin Kaeprnick get paid millions of dollars to tell his story of being oppressed.
Remember, the Woke place massive importance on the discourse as in their view discourses are how structures of power are made and dismantled. Here Jemele Hill gets paid by Disney to help Colin Kaeprnick get paid millions of dollars to tell his story of being oppressed.
16/
The market for wokeness is why we see corporations like Ben and Jerry's Ice cream show concern about pay equality for "Latinx" women. Now, only 2% of hispanics use the word "latinx" and Ben and Jerry's is too expensive for poor people, but its the discourse that counts!
The market for wokeness is why we see corporations like Ben and Jerry's Ice cream show concern about pay equality for "Latinx" women. Now, only 2% of hispanics use the word "latinx" and Ben and Jerry's is too expensive for poor people, but its the discourse that counts!
17/
This same rule extends to PepsiCo.
Their brand Mountain Dew announced they believe Black Lives Matter. Unfortunately from my perspective, rights for exploited Black workers in developing nations don't matter to PepsiCo. But remember, in wokeness it's the clout that counts!
This same rule extends to PepsiCo.
Their brand Mountain Dew announced they believe Black Lives Matter. Unfortunately from my perspective, rights for exploited Black workers in developing nations don't matter to PepsiCo. But remember, in wokeness it's the clout that counts!
18/
I say that with some sarcasm and anger, but it is what the woke think. They are focused, not on the material situation, but on the discourses in society.
Which is why so long as the woke discourse is perpetuated then the woke will largely be satisfied...
I say that with some sarcasm and anger, but it is what the woke think. They are focused, not on the material situation, but on the discourses in society.
Which is why so long as the woke discourse is perpetuated then the woke will largely be satisfied...
19/
This is why Chase Bank is able to avoid bad publicity while they face billions of dollars in fines for foreign currency manipulation while the CEO gets paid 31 Million Dollars in salary:
They took a knee, and this is no joke, in front of the vault they keep piles of cash in.
This is why Chase Bank is able to avoid bad publicity while they face billions of dollars in fines for foreign currency manipulation while the CEO gets paid 31 Million Dollars in salary:
They took a knee, and this is no joke, in front of the vault they keep piles of cash in.
20/
None of this should surprise any of us. It's been going on forever: Kurt Cobain, leader of the alternative rock scene in the early 90's appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone wearing a shirt that said "Corporate Magazines Still Suck"
None of this should surprise any of us. It's been going on forever: Kurt Cobain, leader of the alternative rock scene in the early 90's appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone wearing a shirt that said "Corporate Magazines Still Suck"
21/
And Nikole Hannah Jones said that Capitalism was the motor of slavery and then was a part of Emancipation Conversations, sponsored by Shell oil.
In her head, this was not hypocrisy because it was her getting sponsored and wokeness was being spread
And Nikole Hannah Jones said that Capitalism was the motor of slavery and then was a part of Emancipation Conversations, sponsored by Shell oil.
In her head, this was not hypocrisy because it was her getting sponsored and wokeness was being spread
22/
I hope what you get out of this is two-fold:
1. No matter what they say, wokies will monetize literally anything at the drop of a hat
2. The woke care about discourses, identity, and narratives. The living conditions of people usually are a secondary concern.
so...
I hope what you get out of this is two-fold:
1. No matter what they say, wokies will monetize literally anything at the drop of a hat
2. The woke care about discourses, identity, and narratives. The living conditions of people usually are a secondary concern.
so...
23/
As fun as it was to have a laugh at what appears to be stunning hypocrisy, there was a serious point.
For reasons I tried to make clear, in their own system the woke aren't really hypocrites, they're just finding ways to get paid to put wokeness into everything they can find
As fun as it was to have a laugh at what appears to be stunning hypocrisy, there was a serious point.
For reasons I tried to make clear, in their own system the woke aren't really hypocrites, they're just finding ways to get paid to put wokeness into everything they can find
24/
Is what they are doing totally unhelpful? Yes.
Is their method of getting paid utterly cynical? Also yes.
Is this ethically defensible in any world other than wokeness? Absolutely not.
/fin
Is what they are doing totally unhelpful? Yes.
Is their method of getting paid utterly cynical? Also yes.
Is this ethically defensible in any world other than wokeness? Absolutely not.
/fin
