Education has long been recognized as the great equalizer. Revolutionaries throughout history have emphasized the role of education in empowering individuals, challenging oppressive systems, and fostering community advancement. The oppressive systems we live under recognize this - education has historically been used as a means of oppression and control. Deliberately depriving people of education has been a tactic employed by oppressive regimes to maintain power and suppress dissent. An example of this is slave owners forbidding reading and even now our education systems are themselves oppressive: a student’s academic achievement can still be predicted based on their residential ZIP code, the color of their skin and their family’s socioeconomic status (1).
One of the primary reasons education is considered crucial for revolution and social change is its ability to empower individuals with knowledge and critical thinking skills. By providing people with the tools to question the status quo, analyze information, and formulate informed opinions, education enables individuals to challenge unjust systems and advocate for their rights. We see this in history with a prominent example of the Black Panthers' emphasis on "giving to our people a knowledge of the self" reflecting this belief in the power of education to foster self-awareness and critical consciousness.
The history of the Black Panther Party's educational initiatives, such as the Oakland Community School (OCS), provides a profound illustration of the revolutionary potential of education. The OCS, which emerged from the Panthers' original 10-point program, aimed to provide Black, low-income students with care, healthy food, and emotional support while sparking their curiosity and critical thinking. By doing so, the school effectively addressed the deficiencies of the surrounding public school system and provided a positive alternative for marginalized students.
The Black Panthers were not unique in their education outreach. The Indonesian communist's party in the 50s (PKI) had education outreach initiatives aimed to influence education and social well-being by promoting ideas, literacy and communal principles, particularly in remote areas where access to formal education and resources might be limited. Their efforts extended beyond education to encompass broader social well-being, seeking to shape the ideological and community landscape in these remote villages. The communist party in Indonesia was widely popular due to their reputation for being the most efficient and professional political party in a country long plagued by corruption (2).
A vast ocean away in Brazil, Paulo Freire advocated for education as a fundamental tool in combating oppression and promoting social change. The collective efforts focused on transforming the traditional narrative of education, aiming to move away from the "banking" concept of education, as articulated by Freire, which simply deposits knowledge and reinforces power imbalances.
"There is no such thing as a neutral education process. Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate the integration of generations into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity to it, or it becomes the "practice of freedom", the means by which men and women deal critically with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world."
— Jane Thompson, drawing on Paulo Freire
Instead, their vision was centered on problem-posing education, which encouraged critical thinking, dialogue, and active participation in shaping one's own learning experience and the broader social reality. By emphasizing education as a practice of freedom and consciousness, they sought to empower individuals to critically engage with and challenge systemic injustices, ultimately fostering a more equitable and liberating educational environment. Freire and his contemporaries viewed education not only as a means of acquiring knowledge but also as a catalyst for social transformation and liberation from oppressive structures. Their work echoes a broader movement across South America that recognized education as a critical tool in the fight against systemic oppression and inequality.
The success of these social groups is muted in history but there are vast lessons to be learned from these movements. These stories serve as a testament to the transformative power of education and highlights how educational foundations can be instrumental in challenging oppressive forces. The emphasis on critical thinking, experiential learning, and respect for students demonstrates the profound impact of student-led, community-centered education in fostering liberation and empowerment.
To combat the current oppressive education systems perpetuating inequalities, individuals and communities can empower themselves through self-education and initiatives inspired by the aforementioned movements. By engaging in self-education and community-driven efforts, individuals can actively work to counteract the systemic barriers that disproportionately impact marginalized groups, fostering a more equitable educational environment that prioritizes inclusivity and the elimination of structural inequities in academic achievement.
Revolutionaries and social movements have long recognized that education is central to enacting change and dismantling systems of oppression. By empowering individuals with knowledge, critical thinking skills, and a deeper understanding of the self and society, education has the potential to catalyze transformative societal shifts and advance the cause of justice. By recognizing the transformative potential of education, revolutionaries have sought to challenge and disrupt systems of oppression that have historically sought to deny marginalized communities the benefits of education. These social movements emphasis on education as a fundamental right and tool for empowerment serves as a powerful example of the revolutionary potential of education in effecting meaningful social change. We must self-educate as much as possible as well as support community collectives for literacy, art and education.