The Perils of 'Woke' Culture: When Outrage Overshadows Empathy and Documentation

The passing of the young King Oyo of Tooro has brought into sharp focus a concerning societal trend: the “woke” era, where an overwhelming confidence, amplified by the internet, allows individuals to dictate how others should conduct themselves, even in profoundly personal moments.

When the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, was photographed in visible grief upon her son’s body’s return to Uganda, the Uganda Media Centre faced immediate backlash. Critics demanded the image be removed, seemingly prioritizing comfort over the raw, honest depiction of loss. This instance underscores a dangerous aspect of contemporary online discourse: a performative emotional intelligence that often masks a desire for moral posturing rather than genuine empathy.

Journalism, by its nature, is not designed to provide comfort. Its ethical imperative is to document truth, even when that truth is painful. The photograph in question captured a mother’s sorrow, a universally understood emotion that speaks volumes without words. To erase such moments is to deny future generations the opportunity to learn from history as it unfolds.

This phenomenon extends beyond moments of grief. The digital age, while democratizing information, has also flooded the landscape with content creators driven by fleeting trends, often bypassing professional journalistic standards. This makes it increasingly challenging to discern credible reporting from noise.

Professionals across all fields are urged not to succumb to the pressure of social media “mobs.” While accountability is essential, it must be distinguished from uninformed dictation. True emotional intelligence, in an age of constant pronouncements, may lie in knowing when to step back, observe, and allow professionals to perform their vital, often thankless, task of documenting our shared history.

These moments, however uncomfortable, must be preserved. They are the fabric of our collective memory, providing invaluable insights for those who come after us. The documentation of King Oyo’s coronation decades ago allows us to connect with a past we missed; similarly, the documentation of his passing preserves a moment for future understanding.

This article is based on reporting from the Daily Monitor.