“The Function of Education Is to Teach One to Think Intensively and Critically”
— Martin Luther King Jr., The Purpose of Education (1947)
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we honor a person who understood that justice is inseparable from opportunity.
I grew up in South Central Los Angeles in the 1960’s and 70’s, where I saw firsthand how inequality shapes the possibilities young people are offered. Too often, communities like mine were spoken about only in terms of what they lacked, rather than the creativity, intelligence, and strength they held. Dr. King’s dream was not about abstract freedoms, it was about ensuring that everyone has the chance to learn, to grow, and to live with dignity.
That vision has guided me throughout my life.
Years ago, while filming The Last King of Scotland in Uganda, I met young people who had survived the unimaginable, former child soldiers, forced to commit and suffer extreme violence. What stayed with me was not their hardship, but their resolve, their belief that, despite all appearances, their lives had meaning and direction. They did not want to be treated as victims, but as doers, as change makers. That experience showed me that progress comes from investing in people’s potential and giving them access to the tools they need to build their own future.
This is the very reason why I created WPDI, with Dr. King’s words in the back of my mind: “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.” Education is not simply about the acquisition of knowledge, it is about empowerment. It gives young people the confidence to imagine a future for themselves and the ability to shape it. Genuine education means, in fact, that everyone will learn from each other, and that one day, the learners will surprise their teachers by taking their lessons to unforeseen places and unheard heights.
All I can say is that my years at the helm of WPDI have vindicated Dr. King’s message.
Since 2012, I’ve developed ties with several communities across the world that are marginalized or misunderstood. In each of these communities, though, I’ve met young people who are eager to learn, to lead, and to create change, but who face barriers that go far beyond their control. As different as their circumstances can be, their hopes are the same: they want opportunity, they want purpose, and they want to be recognized for the change they can bring to the world, a change that can be transformative and challenging. How could it be otherwise? There can be no social justice if young people are not allowed to make a difference of their own, that is, if they are not educated to think intensely and critically.
When we invest in people’s empowerment, we are not only honoring Dr. King’s legacy; we are continuing his work.
As we reflect on his life this MLK Day, let us ask ourselves how we can create a world where every young person has access to possibility irrespective of race, gender or social origin. A world where their dreams are nurtured, their dignity is respected, and their voices are heard.
Because the dream he carried was never just his.
It belongs to all of us.
And it is ours to carry forward.
Forest Whitaker
CEO and Founder, WPDI