Quebec politicians spark debate over word ‘woke up’ – Montreal | The Canadian News

If you follow Quebec politics, you’ve probably heard the word “woke up,” especially this week, when many have been offering their own definition of the word.

It was all triggered by the Prime Minister of Quebec, François Legault, and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois of Quebec Solidaire.

Legault accused Nadeau-Dubois of having “woken up” after he made comparisons between Legault and former Quebec Prime Minister Maurice Duplessis, known for his ultra-nationalist and conservative policies.

Then on Thursday, Legault continued the conversation, offering his own definition of the word.

“For me, an ‘awake’ person is someone who wants to make us feel guilty for defending Quebec, its values, just as we did with Bill 21,” he said.

Nadeau-Dubois responded on Twitter by posting a cheeky photo of himself with a wok in hand, saying he doesn’t know what Legault has against woks.

“I wear mine every week,” he joked, inviting people to become a member of his party.

The debate over the word has also extended to municipal politics.

Valérie Plante was asked on Thursday and Friday if she was “awake.”

“I won’t answer that,” Plante said Thursday. “What saddens me is that these words become insults where there is no room for dialogue.”

So what does the term really mean?

It dates back to the 1930s, when the phrase “stay awake” was used in the United States, referring to being aware of the issues affecting African Americans, especially racial prejudice and discrimination.

More recently, it was used during the Black Lives Matter movement to encourage people to be vigilant when it comes to police brutality.

Lately, some people have picked up the word and started using it to criticize.

“So they turned something that was a general phrase into a derogatory term that means that you are too sensitive, that you are not aware of the consequences of your actions,” said political analyst Karim Boulos.

“When an older person uses awoke, it is clearly a derogatory term. It’s a new and easy form of age discrimination. “

Boulos says he hopes the use of the word in politics will fade, but for now, it’s safe to call “wake up” the word of the week in Quebec.