Gayle King has some issues with what she sees as the disparaging use of the word ‘wokeism’ and aired her concerns over it being “weaponized” after a report on CRT-influenced classes being banned.
The “CBS Mornings” host defended what has been referred to as woke and said she sees those ideas as “truthism” instead during a discussion on the show this week, expressing her frustration and slamming Florida for its ban on an AP African American history course that was infused with critical race theory – the idea that systemic racism is part of American society.
King’s comments came after a report presented by correspondent Lisa Ling who accused Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and other conservatives of purportedly not allowing a truthful retelling of American history.
CBS’s Gayle King: “[I]t’s so sad…that the word ‘wokeism’ now has almost become weaponized…I don’t look at wokeism so much as truthism. If people take the time to see what’s happening…nobody is trying to say hate white people…[I]t drives me crazy when I hear that.” pic.twitter.com/A43K0AnDC1
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 10, 2023
“AP African American Studies is at its core, a history course, tracing the Black experience from early African kingdoms to slavery and the civil rights movement through today. It’s drawn fire from some GOP officials who say it’s an example of wokeism infiltrating education,” Ling said in her introduction.
Her report continued with her sitting in on a slavery discussion in a history class held at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles where she said, contrary to the straightforward history she learned in school, this class was “so much more nuanced. It was so much more humanized and some in this country seem to have a problem with that. ”
“In January, Florida banned it, writing the course was inexplicably contrary to Florida law, and significantly lacks educational value,” she added in a direct jab at the Sunshine State and its GOP leadership.
AP African American Studies, which may be the most controversial high school class in the U.S., is being piloted at hundreds of schools.
An educator teaching the course and some of his students told @lisaling why they believe it teaches “history that everybody should know.” pic.twitter.com/hQZS3sqgaF
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) October 10, 2023
After Ling’s report, King unloaded on “wokeism” being used as a pejorative.
“I know, it’s so sad to me now that the word ‘wokeism’ has now almost become weaponized,” King said.
“It’s really missing the point about what’s being taught here. You know, I don’t look at it as ‘wokeism’ so much as ‘truthism,” she continued, “and I think if people would take the time to really see what is happening in these classes and what’s being taught. Nowhere are we trying to say — anybody is trying to say hate white people, ignore — it drives me crazy when I hear that, Lisa.”
“Gayle, wokeism is just misleading the future generations from learning about our history,” co-host Nate Burleson chimed in.
“Yes, yes,” King agreed. “And it is our history.”
Turning to Ling, King said she would be “curious about what you thought about the class.”
“Yeah, nothing that I experienced in the class was hate-fueled by no means,” the former CNN contributor declared, to which King exclaimed, “Exactly.”
“And when I think about how we were taught history, how the humanity of it was removed,” Ling continued, with King in agreement.
The AP African American studies course was updated earlier this year after the Florida Department of Education blocked it from being taught in the state’s schools due to its controversial content such as Black Lives Matter, the queer experience, and more.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
- Mark Levin unloads on MTG’s ‘Fake MAGA’ rant: ‘Who died and named Marjorie Taylor Greene the queen of MAGA?’ - June 16, 2025
- Trump Organization announces new ‘Trump Mobile’ phone service, and gold-colored ‘T1’ phone - June 16, 2025
- Video captures tourist crushing crystal studded ‘Van Gogh’ chair after sitting on it at art museum - June 16, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.