This paper examines the importance of education in building ethnic identity using AfroEcuadorians as the sample population. Research on Afro-Ecuadorians and the Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Ecuador (CONAIE) demonstrates the essential role of education as important to building and maintaining social and political equality in Ecuador. This literature review establishes the need for identification and education in understanding cultural identity. In addition to examining education as a catalyst to societal change, it demonstrates the need of Afro-Ecuadorians to develop and maintain cultural identity through education.