In today’s world, there seems to be an expectation that everyone must subscribe to a certain “woke” ideology. But what is really meant by this term? It seems that the definition is constantly changing and evolving.
ABC’s hit comedy Abbott Elementary recently tackled this topic head-on in their episode “Fundraiser.” In this episode, the school is trying to sell candy to raise money for a field trip to the Franklin Institute, but they are having trouble. The school’s principal, Ava (Janelle James) suggests that the students should “scam” people for money, which frustrates Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph), the church-going teacher. Ava then instructs the students to “look out for liberal white people” and to “make this face” to get them to buy the candy.
It went like this:
Ava: Nobody likes to buy things from happy people, so I suggest you come up with an illness for yourself. My go-to is polio.
Barbara: Ava, no.
Ava: Barb, polio is back. Poke yourself in the eyes if you have to. Tears might as well have dollar signs in them. And you’re gonna wanna look out for liberal white people.
Jacob: Actually, I consider myself to be a progressive.
Child: Is there a difference?
Ava: You’ll be able to spot them, because they’ll be making this face. If you can’t sell candy bars to them, you’re unteachable.
Malika: Ow!
Jacob: Oh, Malika, are you okay?
Malika: No. But I’d feel a lot better if you bought some candy from me, an at-risk black youth.
Barbara: All right, that’s it! You’ve gone too far. May I have a word with you, Ava?
Ava: We’ll be right back.
Jacob: Ava, I thought you wanted me here for an educational emergency.
Ava: Oh, you played your part. Thank you.
Come on. That’s funny. Tell me that’s not funny AND accurate.