Woke Exclusive: The Cast and Creatives Reveal When They Got Woke at WonderCon 2022 – The Illuminerdi
We scored an exclusive interview with the cast and creators of Woke at WonderCon 2022, and they share when and what got them woke.
Woke Season 2 is currently streaming on Hulu. The series was created by cartoonist and activist Keith Knight and Marshall Todd. The series follows Keef Knight (Lamorne Morris) who is an African-American cartoonist on the verge of mainstream success when an unexpected incident changes his life. Season 2 follows up after he processes the events of Season 1 and pursues his new life direction. But like in the first season, Keef comes to realize he was really unaware of all the problems and issues there are even when you intend to do right.
SPOILERS: Morbius Post-Credits Scen...x
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The show is great and is an unexpectedly light-hearted watch despite the heavy and painfully real issues it covers. A feat achieved, I believe, because everyone involved with the series got woke. Because of their deep understanding of the issues, the systems, and people had to come from a deeply personal understanding. The story and the characters, though played for comedy a lot of times, come off as genuine. So I asked the cast and creatives of Woke
The Illuminerdi: What was your woke moment?
Keith Knight: I would say one of my woke moments was when I was a junior in college. I had a teacher and it was my first black teacher ever. He was an American Literature teacher and he gave us for assignments to read: Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin.
And when someone said, Why are you giving us all Black writers?
He said, Im giving you all American writers.
That was the moment where my comics went from being about keg parties to being about something more.
RELATED: Woke Season 2 Review Doing Right and Doing Good is Messy AF
Lamorne Morris: When McDonalds stopped serving ice cream at 10 oclock DAMN! We got to do something about this! *Everyone Laughs*
No. I used to perform at Second City in Chicago. Sometimes I wore a suit. Then I would park someplace and walk [to the theater]. At the time I was dating a Jewish girl, and my best friend was a Black dude. [We were] walking back to my car, and the police stopped us while walking. As we were walking toward the car they stopped us before we could get to the car and accuse me of stealing the car. And Im wearing a suit. They put my girlfriend to the side because shes screaming and yelling. Its a whole thing. They moved her to the side and asked her, if this was my car.
I was like, I just told you it was my car. These are my keys!
It was a whole situation. And my boy was chilling. My boy was just like this, Thats how it is.
And hes in cuffs, like down, but hes just like, Just chill. G, just chill.
And Im so confused. I was like, How are you? If you just saw the audience I just performed in front of.
Second City is notoriously white.
I was like, Man, I cant believe this. This is one of the weirdest moments of my life.
So, that was an eye-opener for me
Youre still Black!
T. Murph: For me, I think Ive had run-ins with the police in my younger teenage years. Adult years. All that
Lamorne Morris: Thats because youre a criminal. Lamorne Morris
T. Murph: No, no, no! Absolutely correct! No, but for me, I think the one, the straw that broke the camels back was what happened to Trayvon Martin. Just seeing that happen to a child. Also Tamir Rice. And nothing was done. Then to watch somebody like George Zimmerman go on to become a cult favorite. Be invited to conventions and sell a gun that killed a kid for millions of dollars. This is insane!
Then you have people who are like, All you guys talk about is race!
Then its like, Are you not paying attention to whats happening? Or are you pretending to be blind?
So that was definitely my eye-opener.
Everyone had an incredibly profound and personal answer. It didnt matter age or race, everyone got woke to the world at some point or another. Though the experiences vary greatly, everyone was on the same page and I believe it is why the series is so relatable and apt. Also why it can approach the issues without being preachy or biased. Im sure watching everyone share their experiences is more impactful so watch the interview below. Like the show, its surprisingly light-hearted and fun for hitting such serious topics.
Created by:Keith Knight; Marshall ToddProduction Companies:Cloud Nine Productions; Olive Bridge Entertainment; ABC Studios; Sony Pictures TelevisionGenre:ComedyOriginal network:HuluCast: Keef (Lamorne Morris), Gunther (Blake Anderson), Ayana (Sasheer Zamata) and Clovis (T. Murph), shownSynopsisCartoonist Keef Knight is now a popular activist on the rise, but hes facing a world where woke has become big business. Can Keef and his friends bring about real change, or is it just about the dollar$? And can Keef navigate this new world without destroying what hes become? Inspired by the life and work of artist Keith Knight,Wokecontinues to upend Black nerd and activist culture, deftly satirizing with a wink and a smile. (Courtesy of Hulu)
When did you get woke? What was your reaction when you realized you didnt immediately think of that list as American authors? Do you need a link to start watching Woke? Let us know in the comments below and let us know when you start your binge onTwitter.
KEEP READING: How I Met Your Father Review: Charming, Hilarious, Apt, and Almost Legendary
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Woke Exclusive: The Cast and Creatives Reveal When They Got Woke at WonderCon 2022 - The Illuminerdi
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