More than 50 people turned out at Revolution Books on April 27 in Berkeley, California, to hear “Woke” Lunacy vs. Real Revolution, a speech by Sunsara Taylor. In her speech, Sunsara tore into the incredible harm being done by the growing “woke” lunacy with its focus on canceling individuals whether rightly or wrongly accused, suppressing critical thought, posturing for position within this system, erasing women and much more. She brought alive how all this helps feed the rising fascism and growing catastrophe of the system of capitalism-imperialism. And she sharply counterposed the need for science and real revolution, especially in this time when revolution is more possible.

In the week running up to the event, a team of revcoms had spread the word on the UC Berkeley campus, which is just blocks from the store, with posters, announcements and creative skits. One professor and about 10 students attended. After the talk, audience members posed deep and timely questions, which Rafael Kadaris joined Taylor in exploring. These included: What is science? How do you know objective reality exists? When and why did people start talking about pornography and prostitution as “empowering” to women? What do you say to students and others who are convinced that Marxism will obliterate their identities as queer or Black, etc.?

No one in attendance openly defended “woke”-ism or denied that it is a destructive force. However, almost all the students and youths at the program had been deeply influenced by “woke”-ism. Most were positively impacted by Taylor's talk and attracted to the vision of revolution she put forward, but they still had “woke” voices in their heads they wanted help answering. One, for example, spoke to really being attracted to Taylor's denunciation of pornography, the global sex industry, and Islamic fundamentalism as enslaving to women, but the student said she kept asking herself, “But who am I to say that about other people's choices and culture?” Taylor and Kadaris brought the whole room back to the objective reality of an oppressive and unnecessary system that rules over us and is the source of great suffering, that this can be known objectively using science, and that we can change it together through making a real revolution.

By the end of the night, three people had purchased copies of the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America, one had purchased BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian, and several new people were strategizing about how to get involved in the revolution and the next speaking events with Taylor.

All in all, this was a solid start to what must become an even more controversial and impactful speaking tour going forward.