If the Cracker Barrel market plunge has anything to teach Wall Street, it’s that investors must start factoring corporate “wokeness” into their list of potential risks. Markets have always been sensitive to a range of variables—earnings reports, interest rate changes, inflation data, geopolitical tensions—but in today’s polarized social and political climate, a company’s cultural positioning can be just as influential as its balance sheet.  What was once a secondary consideration for investors has quickly become a key element of brand strategy and shareholder value. For decades, American companies largely tried to remain neutral on divisive social issues.  Executives believed that their role was straightforward: sell products or services to as broad an audience as possible and avoid alienating potential customers. This approach was rooted in pragmatism. A neutral stance minimized risk and maximized appeal across demographic and political divides.  But in the last decade...