Rakie Ayola: what did The Pact star say about ‘wokeness’ on BBC Breakfast interview - what does ‘woke’ mean?

The Pact star Rakie Ayola has been praised online for her response to a question about the family in the TV show being described as “woke”. Ayola said that anyone who wants to call the family “woke” should “explain what you mean by “woke” and then we can have the conversation”.

She later said on Twitter that she was glad that she “got to say on national TV what I’ve been saying to [partner Adam Smethurst] in our kitchen for months”

This is what you need to know.

What did Rakie Ayola say?

Whilst appearing on BBC Breakfast with Victoria Fritz, Ayola spoke out against critics of the show that describe the Black Welsh family as “woke” in an interview with Victoria Fritz.

Fritz said: “There are some people who will see this as a “woke” version of a Welsh family,” before looking at Ayola and adding: “I can see you rolling your eyes.”

Ayola replied: “If anyone wants to say that to me, what I would say first is explain what you mean by “woke” and then we can have the conversation. If you cannot explain it, don’t have me that word.”

She continued: “Don’t use a word you cannot describe. Because you don’t know what you mean, or maybe you know exactly what you mean and you’re afraid to say what you mean, so let’s have that conversation… Not even afraid, you daren’t. Do you know what I mean?”

Ayola said: “Sit there and tell me what you mean by “woke” and then we can talk about whether this show is “woke” or not. Because I will introduce you to a family just like this one. So when you say, “They don’t exist when they clearly do” are you saying they’re not allowed to exist? What do you mean by that?”

She ended her speech by saying: “Let’s have a proper conversation. Don’t throw words around willy-nilly when you’re not afraid to say exactly what you mean. If you don’t know, please be quiet because you’re incredibly boring.”

What does woke mean?

Aside from its regular meaning of “awake” or “to wake up”, the definition of woke today has evolved massively, with the new meaning being added to the dictionary in 2017. Described by Merriam-Webster as “chiefly US slang”, the dictionary defines the word as: “Aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).”

Woke nowadays refers to being aware or well informed in a political or cultural sense, especially regarding issues surrounding marginalised communities - it describes someone who has “woken up” and is now aware of issues of social injustice.

Merriam-Webster says: ““Stay woke” became a watch word in parts of the Black community for those who were self-aware, questioning the dominant paradigm and striving for something better.”

The use of the word reached mainstream vernacular when the Black Lives Matter movement used the hashtag #staywoke following the murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri by police in 2014.

Following the increase of the words popularity, specifically amongst marginalised groups, it has also become something of a code word amongst the right to refer to things that they don’t approve of - like Suella Braverman’s “tofu eating wokerati” comments and Piers Morgan’s continuous attacks on so-called “the woke brigade”.

What has the reaction to Rakie Ayola been like?

Ayola’s speech on BBC Breakfast has been met with praise online, with many applauding her for her dissection of the word “woke” and what people who use it in a negative way really mean.

Singer Billy Bragg tweeted a clip of Ayola on the breakfast show, adding: “Love how @RakieAyola dismantles the term ‘woke’ and reveals the motives of those who use it. This should be the response to anyone who hides behind this shameful trope.”

Writer Mikey Walsh also tweeted: “‘Explain what you mean by woke & then we can have the conversation’. Incredibly put by @RakieAyola. This should be the response to every commentator, journalist & MP who’ve become for too comfortable throwing the term ‘woke’ into every one of their dog whistle opinions.”

“This is exactly how to deal with anyone using “woke” in the pejorative. Make them get those views out in the open. “Woke” covers a multitude of sins and it’s time some were made to confess them. Well done @RakieAyola,” wrote another user.

Another tweeted: “Please watch and take notes on @RakieAyola’s grandmaster class in how to clap back on people who think screaming ‘woke’ is a debate-killing sick burn. Which, for the record, it isn’t. Full marks. No notes.”

Following the interview, Ayola took to Twitter to address the clip that has gone viral on the platform, tweeting: “Thanks for the question Victoria @BBCBreakfast. No apology wanted or needed. Believe me, if I felt differently you’d know. A loaded question maybe, but I got to say on national TV what I’ve been saying to @adamsmet66 in our kitchen for months. I’m glad it struck a chord.”