From Oppression to Hope: Freire's Journey toward Utopia

Abstract

Despite those who want to relegate him exclusively to the ranks of adult educators, Freire's conclusions are pertinent to learning throughout one's life. Because his philosophy of education is eclectic and his interests are universal, the influence of his thought affects progressive educators from preschool to the Gray Panthers. In particular, those who believe in the implications of hands-on, experiential learning are fascinated with Freire's insight into the phenomenon of oppressed consciousness and the need for adequate pedagogies to respectfully address marginated populations. This article tries to answer the question Why would people in the United States study educational philosophy and pedagogy originating in Brazil? by pointing out the relevance and affinity of Freire's pedagogy of the oppressed to U.S. pragmatic and existential thinking about schools. It also intends to provide new readers of Freire an overview of his major works, along with helpful summaries of key books. This is especially appropriate now in light of Freire's death in April 1997. He is already greatly missed, but the struggle to attain the societal goals he identified as the purposes of liberationist education will continue to need his vision, counsel, and strategies. The many and complex dimensions of that struggle he describes as follows: Just as I could never accept that the fight for liberation could be restricted to the struggle of individuals, I could never accept that it could be reduced to the fight of women against men, of blacks against whites. ... The fight is not, as I said in the previous letter, for a democratic society so perfect it suppresses sexism, racism, and class exploitation once and for all. The fight is for the