Commentary The purpose of the woke “antiracism” movement launched by some members of the educational, media, and political elite, together with race activists, has always been to elevate its proclaimers above other members of the elite. In other words, cultural innovation such as the “antiracism” movement is really self-promotion to gain status and power in elite venues. Have you wondered why woke demands are continually becoming more extreme? It’s not just tearing down statues anymore—now it’s forbidden to say “man” or “woman,” “mother” or “father.” The reason for this frantic upsurge in woke cancellation is that members of the elite and race activists are competing with one another, each striving to be more “antiracist” than thou, each trying to distinguish him or herself as more woke by pushing the envelope of “racism!” This status-seeking takes no account of the consequences for other people and for society generally. What it definitively …