The Spark That Woke Me
By Reko Denim
Some people say they're "woke," but I don't think most truly grasp what that means. For some, it's about supporting Black culture, embracing Black-owned businesses, or showing love to the community — and that's beautiful, no doubt. But that's just the surface. Real awakening goes deeper. It's not just about what you buy or post — it's a shift in consciousness. A disruption in how you perceive reality. A moment when the veil lifts, and you realize the world isn't what you thought it was.
Those of us who've felt it know it's not just a vibe — it's a jolt. It's that moment when something hits you so hard, you start questioning everything. For me, it was realizing how fragile life is, how temporary this whole thing might be. I remember learning about asteroids and space and suddenly thinking, Wait… what if we all just vanish? That fear stuck with me. I asked my dad, hoping for comfort, but he couldn't give me answers — just a change of subject. And that's how it goes. When you really start to see things differently, people around you often can't follow. Not because they don't care, but because they're caught up in survival.
Systemic Distractions: A Conversation With Myself
Me: Every time I start to wake up, something pulls me back. Bills. School. Violence. The news. It's like the world is designed to keep me distracted.
Myself: You're not imagining that. It is designed that way. The system thrives when you're too busy surviving to question it.
Me: But why does it feel so constant? Like I'm always reacting, never reflecting.
Myself: Because distraction is a tool. Economic pressure, media saturation, even the way school is structured — it's all part of a bigger pattern. Keep people focused on the urgent, so they never sit with the important.
Me: So you're saying it's not just bad luck or poor time management?
Myself: No. It's systemic. Think about it — when you're worried about rent or debt, your brain literally has less bandwidth. Studies from the National Bureau of Economic Research show that financial stress reduces your ability to think critically. That's not just theory — that's neuroscience.
Me: And the media?
Myself: The media doesn't just inform — it programs. The Journal of Social and Political Psychology explains how media coverage can limit public understanding and suppress alternative narratives.
Me: Damn. Even my phone feels like it's working against me.
Myself: It kind of is. Algorithms are built to hijack your attention. A systematic review published by Springer found that over 66% of digital distractions lead to reduced mental clarity. That's not just annoying — that's intentional design.
Me: So what do I do? How do I stay awake?
Myself: You remember. You come back. You notice the breadcrumbs — those flashes of clarity. You protect your attention like it's sacred. Because it is. Your awareness is your power. And every time you reclaim it, you disrupt the system.
These aren't just distractions — they're tools of control. They keep us vibrating low, feeding the machine, disconnected from our higher selves and each other. But I keep coming back. I think a lot of us do. We get glimpses — flashes of clarity — and then we drift. But those flashes matter. They're the breadcrumbs. They're what keep me searching, wondering if maybe we've been here before. Maybe when we die, we forget and come back again. Maybe this whole thing is a loop. And if that's true, wouldn't it be wild to actually remember?
So I'm putting this out there for anyone who's felt that spark — that "wait… what the hell is going on?" moment. If you're trying to learn, trying to figure it out, trying to break through the noise… I see you. You're not alone. Let's build something real. Let's talk.
— Reko Denim