The Power of Knowledge

Previously, I’ve written about two American heroes whose life and values inspire my outlook and approach to career, relationships, and life – Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali. As we kick of celebrations for Black History Month, I want to share my thoughts on a third hero whose philosophy on the power of education has shaped civil rights, political representation, and purposeful education, W.E.B. Du Bois.

A well-known Du Bois quote states, “Education is the development of power and ideal. We want our children trained as intelligent human beings should be... They have a right to know, to think, to aspire.” While those words were made in reference to racial equity, they have as much currency now as they did in his day. Today, we face a dire challenge to overcoming the gap in educational equity – the digital divide. It’s a challenge that goes beyond race and is being exacerbated by COVID-19 and a world that is ever more reliant on technology.

 What most inspires me about Du Bois is his commitment to being a continuous learner with a passion for sharing his wisdom so his expertise benefited everyone who was willing to listen and learn.

Du Bois’ life was one long quest for knowledge and enlightenment. He was the first member of his extended family to attend high school. After graduating from Fisk University, Du Bois enrolled at Harvard University, where he was the first Black American to receive a Ph.D. from the institution.

As a writer, teacher, and activist, he was a champion for equal rights and higher opportunities. He believed that integration – which promised equal educational and employment opportunities – was key to financial success. 

Knowledge = Power

Du Bois’ advocated that the educated must devote themselves to providing leadership in the struggle for equal rights. And he believed that all children’s education should be based on ample general schooling because education leads to knowledge; knowledge leads to power; and with power, we can enact change.

Made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, this power is being threatened in the form of a digital divide that is preventing millions of students from accessing the educational equity DuBois promoted.

Our educational system has been on a path to digitization for some time. Educators increasingly rely on technology to enhance the learning environment at school and help students complete assignments at home. Yet millions of families lack adequate access to internet or laptops for effective at-home learning. Many simply can’t afford broadband internet or devices, and others live in areas where broadband is simply not available, particularly in predominantly minority communities.

According to a recent Boston Consulting Group study, this digital divide will prevent as many as 16 million American kids from accessing the education they deserve. This is a staggering number of students that are at risk of missing months of learning and falling behind. It can have catastrophic effects later on as these students face a greater risk of being held back, dropping out, or failing to attend college.

As Du Bois advocated, we have a responsibility to provide leadership in the fight for educational equity. I’m incredibly proud of Truist, our teammates, and partners who are helping in our pursuit to eliminate this divide in our communities. In partnership with Dell and Hotwire, we launched The Home Page Program, which provides laptops, hotspots, and broadband for students and communities who need it. And through our support of non-profit partners, we’re helping to bridge the digital gap for other vulnerable populations, including small businesses owners, providing access to affordable and reliable broadband that is critical to advance economic growth and create thriving communities.

Du Bois believed “ignorance is a cure for nothing.” We cannot be ignorant to our responsibility to help best position our kids for a digital future. The digital divide is a big issue, and closing it is going to require big solutions – public and private partnerships and investments.

Who is your most appreciated educator, innovator, business person, scientist, community leader, etc.? Share who and why in the comments.

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