‘Wokeness’ and Its Societal Importance with Dr. Khalilah Gates
Episode Summary: This week on Love & Speak the Truth, Dr. Khalilah Gates explores the nuanced concept of “wokeness,” unpacking its societal significance and its intersection with race, gender, religion, and ethnicity. Taking a positive and inclusive approach, Dr. Gates tackles the complex issue of gentrification, focusing on its effects through the lens of Chicago’s west side. She highlights the transformation of communities and emphasizes the critical role of patience, kindness, and enduring love in fostering harmony. Dr. Gates dispels the misconception that wokeness contradicts these values, instead advocating for mutual respect, understanding, and open communication as vital tools for peaceful coexistence amidst change. You will wake up to the realization that we have been here before. Don’t miss out on this authentic conversation of truth, hope, resilience and real-time honest “wokeness.”
About Dr. Khalilah Gates (click to expand)
Dr. Khalilah Gates-Hill is a proud Chicago native, born and raised on the West Side, where she continues to reside and drive change in her community. She attended Spelman College, earned her medical degree at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, and completed her pulmonary and critical care fellowship at Northwestern, where she has been a faculty member for 14 years. In addition to practicing medicine, Khalilah serves as the Assistant Dean of Learning and Academic Performance at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, supporting students and leading bias and inclusion initiatives to promote diversity and allyship in healthcare. A firm believer in the power of change, she often shares the words of James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” Outside of her professional life, she finds joy in parenting her 8-year-old daughter and embracing her roles as a devoted wife, daughter, and sister. Family remains at the heart of everything she does.
Love & Speak the Truth podcast is made possible by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, US Region
Executive Producers: Megan Beutel and Jennifer Schmitz
Sound Track: Laurenti Wright on keyboard
Music Composition of Women Bearing Witness: Maria Bierer, IBVM
All Rights Reserved 2025-26. ™
