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Trigger Words: How Political Language Has Made America Less Inclusive
Not yet published
Expected 17 Nov 26Trigger Words examines how language in the United States has been manipulated and politicized to sow division and dehumanization, rather than to encourage inclusion and equity. From “woke” to “DEI” to “CRT,” words that once emerged from marginalized communities to speak truth to power have been weaponized by conservative movements—especially the MAGA wing of the Republican Party—to stoke fear, shut down dialogue, and preserve systems of oppression. At the same time, however, language has been coopted by many in liberal spaces in watered-down ways that remove the overall message that was intended to be communicated by said language, such as switching terminology from “homeless” to “unhoused,” “African American” to “BIPOC,” or “Latino” to “Latinx.”
This incisive and thoughtful look at how our language has been dangerously politicized by both sides of the aisle is not just a diagnosis—it is a roadmap. With experience as a university lecturer, community activist, award-winning poet, renown professional speaker, and author (Lies About Black People), Dr. Omekongo Dibinga charts a path forward to reclaim and reframe these terms in their original contexts and intent.
Trigger Words is an urgent and hopeful call to action that shows that healing begins when we stop simply repeating these words like ideological mantras or rejecting them out of political fear. Instead, the book invites readers to understand the deeper histories behind our most loaded social vocabulary, challenge manipulation and misuse, and foster authentic dialogue that connects rather than divides.
This incisive and thoughtful look at how our language has been dangerously politicized by both sides of the aisle is not just a diagnosis—it is a roadmap. With experience as a university lecturer, community activist, award-winning poet, renown professional speaker, and author (Lies About Black People), Dr. Omekongo Dibinga charts a path forward to reclaim and reframe these terms in their original contexts and intent.
Trigger Words is an urgent and hopeful call to action that shows that healing begins when we stop simply repeating these words like ideological mantras or rejecting them out of political fear. Instead, the book invites readers to understand the deeper histories behind our most loaded social vocabulary, challenge manipulation and misuse, and foster authentic dialogue that connects rather than divides.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Omekongo Dibinga PhD, Globe Pequot, and Prometheus Books for the ARC!
I believe this book is going to be a big deal. It's been a long time since I've read something so of the moment as this. Dr. Dibinga uses events that happened as recently as this year in order to strengthen his point and provide evidence. This book works at the intersection of history, social justice, and personal reflection.
Dr. Dibinga has chosen a different "trigger word" for each chapter and then takes us on a deep dive on the sociocultural and historical elements of the word and how, in many cases, the original meaning of the word has been warped and manipulated in the media and online.
It forces the reader to consider their own language, as well as their own trigger words. From the day I started reading this, I have noticed myself becoming more cognizant of the words I used, as well as paying more attention to the kinds of words that bring a strong reaction out of me.
Dr. Dibinga doesn't just leave it there, though. He gives us a list of questions to ask ourselves, as well as a large reference list of resources that can help us to facilitate our own personal work within this area. I'm already adding a lot of the books he mentioned to my Goodreads "want to read" list!
This book can be read straight through, or it can be used chapter by chapter in order to have specific conversations and draw attention to the history and political manipulation of a certain term. I am currently teaching AP Language and Composition, and I hope to integrate some of these chapters into my curriculum in the future. I like that there are discussion-based questions provided, even though I believe the text lends itself to thoughtful discussions already. I will recommend this to as many people as I can!
I truly hope this book gets all of the press that it deserves. I hope to see it on TV, hear about it in podcasts, and every other form of popular media. I can't wait to purchase a hardcover copy, because I already consider it a vital resource in my collection. Of course, it can't act as a resource unless I am also maintaining a reflective and action-based state of mind. This book encourages that and gives us a way.
Please read this book!
5 stars
I believe this book is going to be a big deal. It's been a long time since I've read something so of the moment as this. Dr. Dibinga uses events that happened as recently as this year in order to strengthen his point and provide evidence. This book works at the intersection of history, social justice, and personal reflection.
Dr. Dibinga has chosen a different "trigger word" for each chapter and then takes us on a deep dive on the sociocultural and historical elements of the word and how, in many cases, the original meaning of the word has been warped and manipulated in the media and online.
It forces the reader to consider their own language, as well as their own trigger words. From the day I started reading this, I have noticed myself becoming more cognizant of the words I used, as well as paying more attention to the kinds of words that bring a strong reaction out of me.
Dr. Dibinga doesn't just leave it there, though. He gives us a list of questions to ask ourselves, as well as a large reference list of resources that can help us to facilitate our own personal work within this area. I'm already adding a lot of the books he mentioned to my Goodreads "want to read" list!
This book can be read straight through, or it can be used chapter by chapter in order to have specific conversations and draw attention to the history and political manipulation of a certain term. I am currently teaching AP Language and Composition, and I hope to integrate some of these chapters into my curriculum in the future. I like that there are discussion-based questions provided, even though I believe the text lends itself to thoughtful discussions already. I will recommend this to as many people as I can!
I truly hope this book gets all of the press that it deserves. I hope to see it on TV, hear about it in podcasts, and every other form of popular media. I can't wait to purchase a hardcover copy, because I already consider it a vital resource in my collection. Of course, it can't act as a resource unless I am also maintaining a reflective and action-based state of mind. This book encourages that and gives us a way.
Please read this book!
5 stars
Read
June 15, 2026Ehhh...? Not what I expected or needed.
It would be useful to people who've heard these terms in passing, knew they were being misinterpreted or twisted or used as cudgels in political 'discussions,' but didn't know much about them. There are a ton of (painfully) effective examples here (always sobering when books directly quote the more incendiary MAGA folks and the genuinely unbelievable shit they say with 'senator' in their Twitter handles), and some good history for the terms with a longer history than I'd thought.
But overall, did I personally learn much? I dunno. Take this quote:
What do you mean 'deeper study'? Isn't THIS supposed to be the deeper study? I left the book knowing a lot of examples and history but nothing else; like, yes, I do know that 'illegal aliens' is a code word for 'Mexicans,' but I'd like a deeper analysis of this (is there even a deeper analysis to be had?). Maybe this was all just a little too surface-level for me. It also included some quotes from random normal folks about terms that rankle them, and their insights were kinda...
Profound.
So yeah, I needed much more. Not for me. I do think it would be good to recommend to people who feel confounded by all this coded arguing going on.
Anyways, this is a quote from Bill Moyers, but I really liked its inclusion in this book and would like to remember it, so I shall stick it here:
It would be useful to people who've heard these terms in passing, knew they were being misinterpreted or twisted or used as cudgels in political 'discussions,' but didn't know much about them. There are a ton of (painfully) effective examples here (always sobering when books directly quote the more incendiary MAGA folks and the genuinely unbelievable shit they say with 'senator' in their Twitter handles), and some good history for the terms with a longer history than I'd thought.
But overall, did I personally learn much? I dunno. Take this quote:
It is definitely a trigger term worthy of deeper study.
What do you mean 'deeper study'? Isn't THIS supposed to be the deeper study? I left the book knowing a lot of examples and history but nothing else; like, yes, I do know that 'illegal aliens' is a code word for 'Mexicans,' but I'd like a deeper analysis of this (is there even a deeper analysis to be had?). Maybe this was all just a little too surface-level for me. It also included some quotes from random normal folks about terms that rankle them, and their insights were kinda...
Going forward, she said she would like for woke to 'no longer be used as a slur and instead be seen as a good thing.'
Profound.
So yeah, I needed much more. Not for me. I do think it would be good to recommend to people who feel confounded by all this coded arguing going on.
Anyways, this is a quote from Bill Moyers, but I really liked its inclusion in this book and would like to remember it, so I shall stick it here:
If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Trigger Words discusses how language in the United States has been manipulated and politicised to sow division. Many words originated from marginalised communities such as “woke” as stay woke was sung by Lead Belly to the Scottsboro Boys in 1938. Words have now been weaponised by the right wing conservatives especially MAGA as they claim a “war on woke” and to be against people who are “too woke”. Words that had positive meanings and helped people speak truth to power have now been flipped by conservatives so the words now have negative connotations. This book examines the words: woke, DEI, the N-word, illegals, CRT, the phrase from the river to the sea and this book sets out ways to move forward as a society.
This book is good and very timely. It gets to the heart of the moment and is clear about what is going on in American politics and what needs to be done. I’ve always been someone who is clear about the words they use and wants to get to specifics. I hate how people talk around subjects rather than using specific words to describe what something is. As this book states, it’s important to note that words have been taken by conservatives and the meaning of them has been misused but we can take the power back. A lot of people cannot actually define what words like woke and DEI mean and it’s never been more important to be clear about the words we use and what they mean. I will be recommending this book and I think this is perfect for people who are just starting to learn about these topics. I would recommend this book alongside Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else? by Steve Phillips and Reckoning the Racial Reckoning by David Dante Troutt.
Trigger Words discusses how language in the United States has been manipulated and politicised to sow division. Many words originated from marginalised communities such as “woke” as stay woke was sung by Lead Belly to the Scottsboro Boys in 1938. Words have now been weaponised by the right wing conservatives especially MAGA as they claim a “war on woke” and to be against people who are “too woke”. Words that had positive meanings and helped people speak truth to power have now been flipped by conservatives so the words now have negative connotations. This book examines the words: woke, DEI, the N-word, illegals, CRT, the phrase from the river to the sea and this book sets out ways to move forward as a society.
This book is good and very timely. It gets to the heart of the moment and is clear about what is going on in American politics and what needs to be done. I’ve always been someone who is clear about the words they use and wants to get to specifics. I hate how people talk around subjects rather than using specific words to describe what something is. As this book states, it’s important to note that words have been taken by conservatives and the meaning of them has been misused but we can take the power back. A lot of people cannot actually define what words like woke and DEI mean and it’s never been more important to be clear about the words we use and what they mean. I will be recommending this book and I think this is perfect for people who are just starting to learn about these topics. I would recommend this book alongside Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else? by Steve Phillips and Reckoning the Racial Reckoning by David Dante Troutt.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5⭐️
A very important and relevant examination of current anti-woke discourses in the US/West. Uses contemporary evidence and examples to make its points, which it does well. It’s a short book, but covers lots of examples, almost to the fault of trading depth with breadth. I also noticed there was a focus more on gender and racial issues, and no mention of trans rights issues or ableism in the current administration, which seems like an oversight given the highly charger discourse in those areas. But, otherwise, I think the way the author approached and discussed the book was sensitive and well-meaning as well and this book is a good contribution to the anti-Trump discourse
A very important and relevant examination of current anti-woke discourses in the US/West. Uses contemporary evidence and examples to make its points, which it does well. It’s a short book, but covers lots of examples, almost to the fault of trading depth with breadth. I also noticed there was a focus more on gender and racial issues, and no mention of trans rights issues or ableism in the current administration, which seems like an oversight given the highly charger discourse in those areas. But, otherwise, I think the way the author approached and discussed the book was sensitive and well-meaning as well and this book is a good contribution to the anti-Trump discourse
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews