Paulo Freire was a Brazilian educator and philosopher who was a leading advocate of critical pedagogy. He was born in Recife, Pernambuco, on 19 September 1921 and passed away in São Paulo on 2 May 1997. Freire is widely recognized as one of the most influential thinkers in the history of pedagogy worldwide, known for his work Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1969), which is considered a foundational text of the critical pedagogy movement. His ideas advocated for pedagogical autonomy as a foundational concept in schools.

Freire's career began in the realm of education as he taught Portuguese in secondary schools between 1941 and 1947. He then moved into adult education and workers' training, and served as the first Director of the Department of Cultural Extension of the University of Recife from 1961 to 1964. He gained international acclaim for his innovative approaches to literacy training in Northeastern Brazil. However, after the military coup d'état of 1964, Freire was imprisoned by the new government and was eventually forced into political exile.

Despite the challenges he faced, Freire's legacy continues to influence educators and scholars around the globe. His commitment to using education as a tool for social change remains a powerful inspiration for those working towards educational equity and empowerment.