The same article tells us that Leadbelly used the term back in the 30’s and that “woke” as in well-informed and self-aware appeared in the New York Times Magazine in 1962.

“Stay woke” comes from the 1971 play about Marcus Garvey called ‘Garvey Lives” by Barry Beckham. The internet meme comes from Enyka Badhus’ 2008 song ‘Master Teacher,” which has “stay woke” in the chorus.

All of this was well before 2015.

Buy why quibble…