Far-right activists are screaming that Superman has become “Woke.”

Having read comics for almost sixty years I can vouch for our favorite Kryptonian.

Well, of course Superman is “woke.” He always has been. Of course, conservatives think that’s a bad thing. Back during WWII Superman fought fictional Nazis and his image was used in fundraisers geared to combatting the Axis. Today, MAGA conservatives embrace open Nazis like Elon Musk and his Hitler-praising A.I. (a thing that was fictional in Superman-related comics for decades.) During the Civil Rights era, the Man Of Steel was featured in public service ads promoting Brotherhood (You can call it “Wokeness,” if you want.) This was back when American Family Association founder Don Wildmon was crusading against letting Black people in where the White Folks are. (Schools, stores, ect.) Most of these conservatives probably don’t know that Superman has Jewish roots, right down to his creators: Jewish Cleveland boys Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster patterning his origin on the story of Moses. “Woke” is easy to say and to remember and it’s catchy. It has become a nifty substitute for the anti-Black, anti-LGBT, antisemitic, anti-immigrant rhetoric that white supremacists can’t get away with anymore. As for the Cold War era “Truth, Justice and the American Way” slogan (from the openings of Supes’ media appearances) he said “We fight for truth, justice but not necessarily our way” in a comic I read back during the Reagan Administration. In an era where some Americans are embracing our home-grown Gestapo and propaganda outlets we need good examples like our fictional hero Kal-El. Damn right he’s woke! And always has been!