"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"

This quote by James A. Baldwin speaks to the concept that education can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, education can be a tool to assist us become more mindful and familiar with the world around us. On the other hand, it can likewise lead us to question and challenge the society in which we are being educated. This paradox of education is that it can both empower us to believe critically and challenge the status quo, while at the very same time, it can likewise be utilized to strengthen existing power structures and ideologies. In this method, education can be both a tool of freedom and a tool of oppression. Ultimately, it depends on us to choose how we utilize our education and how we utilize it to form our society.