TL;DR - Using it is essential to separate genuine inequality from social engineering tactics. "Woke" is used mainly as a slang term to highlight the lack of logic many on the left use when discussing a range of people considered minorities. It is used when the English language is tampered with in the fight for ruthless progressivism. This was seen when Justin Treadeu, Canada's PM, corrected a woman who used the word "Mankind", noting that "we prefer people kind". In him saying "we" he is enacting a ruthless progressive idea by insinuating that everybody should be on his side. If this was the case, then it would be naive to think that this wouldn't go any further. If any word with "man" in it was corrected to "people", then a large amount of the English language would need to be changed. What for, and at what cost? Nobody really cares about these forms of language, even, it could be implied, do the "woke" left. Their main political aim by altering language is to make everybody think differently, anybody who's read 1984 could link it to Thought speak, they want you to think differently. Hence, saying "woke" isn't a derogatory term against minorities, it is an important word that is necessary to separate out real inequalities, such as women and girls being assaulted or BAME people being unfairly targeted by police officers, with fictional inequalities, such as language, that aim to control the masses under the false pretence of equality.

What exactly CAN white people do without being offensive? It always feels like someone's ready to drop an 8 page history lesson on how I'm culturally appropriating my preferred brand of hair conditioner or something.

I was watching ‘The Bold Type’ on Netflix where they tackle lots of societal issues and the main black character said this statement but did not really elaborate as to why expect that it is a black word. I’ve never really used this word regardless but not I feel I should not?

The term "woke" is defined as an 'alertness to injustice in society.' As discrimination continues to pervade society, the term "woke" can be especially related to issues of race. However, I do not think that white people shouldn't be allowed to use the term. While many white people may not have experienced the discrimination that being "woke" recognises, it does not mean that white people can't use the term to raise awareness of these issues and support social equality as black people would. Moreover, the term "woke" is not restricted to issues of race, but rather social issues in general. In this sense, if you are arguing that white people can't use the term you could also claim that men shouldn't be able to use it as women have suffered from more sexism in society than men have. "Woke" is not an offensive term against minorities and what issues people have and haven't experienced. Rather, it is a modern term that can be utilised to inform and raise awareness of social injustice.

Tl:Dr: depends on the context, and the threshold of what you consider “woke”. Also, don’t do it to be trendy. I have mixed feelings on the word. I agree that it’s important to distinguish between genuine social awareness and being liberal for the sake of being trendy. It’s important to have some awareness of genuine issues these days, but if you call out left right and centre, that really undermines the argument and eventually a movement which could make the world a better place is drowned out by ridicule and modern trends. On the other side, most of the times I’ve seen the word “woke” in Facebook comments, it’s been to shut down anybody with a marginally liberal argument. It’s the go to response when your argument isn’t strong enough. Same applies to anybody who uses “gammon”, “snowflake”, “lefties” or “righties”. Just as liberalism to be trendy undermines worthy or liberalism. So does calling out all liberalism as “wokeness”. My argument applies to all skin shades. The colour of your skin doesn’t change the context of the word.

Nobody should use it. It's a stupid term.

It is AAVE. White people using AAVE is appropriation. You don’t get to denigrate and oppress a people, and the casually steal their culture. White society punishes Black people, but steal Black culture in order to seem cool.

No one should use the term 'woke'. The term woke is banal and should be banned.