“The paradox of education is precisely this—that as one begins to become conscious, one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.”
James Baldwin
As a result of achieving an education, one learns that the cumulative actions of this society are not congruent with the espoused and documented foundations upon which this America is built. One also learns that the ideals of a modern society are far from being realized or even being fervently sought by the majority of its citizens.
Therefore, if remaining ignorant and not knowing are not options for one who is being educated, then one resolution to the paradox of knowing might be this insight from Ibram X. Kendi (“Denial Is The Heartbeat of America” in The Atlantic):
And in the end, what will make America true is the willingness of the American people to stare at their national face for the first time, to open the book of their history for the first time, and see themselves for themselves—all the political viciousness, all the political beauty—and finally right the wrongs, or spend the rest of the life of America trying.
This can be who we are.
Gwen Dungy 