Denzel Washington: Education is the pathway for success in the mindset of Denzel Washington

Black Collegian, Oct 2000 by Hazell, Ricardo

"It goes beyond the Black and white issue," Washington said. "It's a group of guys who don't know each other, who come together as a unit. The emotional core of the film is with them." The characters in the film are placed in situations where they have to learn about one another, for the sake of their school, and the city of Alexandria, which, like many other southern towns, was adamant about maintaining segregation. Washington remarked, "my character tells the players that they have to learn something about each other. So, you have white kids from country music backgrounds teaching Black kids about their music and Black kids from a Motown background teaching these kids from the country about their music. They learned about each other's cultures and how to come together as a unit."

Washington knows all too well that in the digital age in which we live, computer literacy will be as much of a key to societal functionality as learning how to read and write. He contends, "you need all the ammunition you can get these days. Personally I'm really glad I went to college. It was beneficial just to learn about how things like politics work. You're not just jumping right out there." When asked whether or not his children had the option of skipping college, Washington smiled a Cheshire cat grin and retorted: "Oh, mine are going to college somewhere. I don't care where, just somewhere. College was good for me, and my brother and sister. I think it'll be good for my children as well."

Washington wonders what will happen in the future regarding the frequently mentioned Digital Divide? Will a public education be sufficient enough to propel our children into the coming years? Will traditional education be replaced with online and at- home teachers? These questions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his educational concerns. He urges young people to cultivate their talents and follow their passions to achieve success in life. "Your humility, spiritual base and hard work in whatever you do, ought make you the best you can become. Whether you're driving the bus, serving tea, cutting hair, for pursuing high-tech careers}, it doesn't matter. Everybody has a job to do and a purpose in this world, and nobody's purpose is more important than anyone else's," stated Washington.

The acclaimed actor is optimistic about the future for young African Americans. In the immortal words of the late Jamaican vocalist Bob Marley, "everything's gonna be all right." With each "A" received, with each test passed, and with each bachelor's, master's, or doctorate awarded, somewhere an ancestor is smiling.

Ricardo Hazell is a writer for Lee Bailey's EUR/Electronic Urban Report at www.EURweb.com.