'Woke Baby' by Mahogany L. Browne is promoted as a storybook for infants and a baby book that aims to empower the youngest bookworms. However, the book is not about babies and rhymes; it is about racism and victimhood.
Woke baby is a descriptive illustration of a baby's daily activities, from the moment it awakens to when it takes a brief rest.
A tiny infant wakes up in the crib, peeping out before the sun has even risen. The baby's waking gestures include raised fist, wiggling, using his loud voice, and reaching for things he sees. It contains sweet pictures accompanied with text to influence children.
In the book, the gender of the baby is kept unknown. The narrator notes that the baby's waking gestures are the promise of power they reveal. The baby extends out with fists raised to signify strength. The eyes open entails the baby's innocence and awareness of the surroundings, while feet kicking through glass ceilings entails excitement for the new day. Meanwhile, the baby's cry is to signify the echoing sound for justice while the crib signifies the struggle of racial differences in society.
The title "Woke Baby" sounds beautiful, and it has simple illustrations of a black child. It is advertised as an empowering book representing what it means to be a woke-baby, aware and watchful. However, it's all about encouraging the necessity to educate children to be racist. Further, the book celebrates children having their path and voice. Also, the book delivers a message that a baby is a striving citizen for a better society and a better world. Sadly, the terms used in the book are not comprehensible or suitable for any toddler nor the illustrations of a baby with the playful irony that captures activism and racism.
Can you imagine reading this book to your toddler!? Is this the book you would love to read in the morning or as a bedtime story? Seriously?
"Woke Baby" is obviously racist. It suggests that all babies are born into an unjust world, and everyone is out to harm them. The use of an adorable black baby's illustration is only baiting to lure its readers. The book's only message is discontent and outrage. What else can you think of?
There is a small window of development for our children to learn and explore the things in their surroundings. As they grow, they will know, learn, and understand things around them. We need to guide them. Isn't it better to teach about colors, letters, animals, love, and respect?
Why can't we just let kids be kids?
There are better ways to teach them about race, and there are far better things our children should learn than racism. Children are more intelligent than we think. They love being with other children. Why can't we let them be?
 As parents, if we read this book to our children, how can you explain some of the concepts written in Woke Baby like, "white is a bad deal" incorporated with a drawing representing Satan? Why would you want to instill fear and hate in your child?
Woke baby is encouraging separation, segregation, and hate.
 
If we aim for a more just and equitable society, let's strive for loving and respectful children.
We can do better. We can be better.