https://youtu.be/wz-XlFAK5jY

“Woke and Revoke: The Disaster of Difference, the Movement of History”

A Conversation with Homi Bhabha and Bernard E. Harcourt

Thursday, September 17, 2026

The Riverside Church, New York City

In this conversation between Professor Homi Bhabha and Bernard E. Harcourt, we explore our present moment in history, in which there has emerged a vociferous debate over what is often called the “woke” movement, its alleged “excesses,” and the need to “revoke” and achieve a recalibration in this country. This new debate resonates everywhere we turn today. We will explore it through the lens of theories of difference and history.

Readings:

1. Gessen opinion piece on American history: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/opinion/trump-smithsonian-history-censorship.html
2. Lydia Polgreen editorial in New York Times on “Identity Politics Wasn’t Supposed to Be Like This”: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/29/opinion/democrats-primaries-identity-politics.html
3. Bret Stevens piece in the New York Times on “Yes, Woke 1.0 Was Crazy”: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/18/opinion/woke-liberals-restitution.html
4. David Cole in the NYRB about “the freedom to be woke”: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2026/07/12/the-freedom-to-be-woke/
5. Tyler Austin Harper piece in the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/09/elite-academia-leadership-hypocrisy/687969/