How can disproportionate elite political, economic, and social power -- the essence of inequality -- be challenged peacefully and democratically with empowerment from below through critical pedagogy? Paraguay presents a fascinating case study to address this question, especially considering how its history of colonization, authoritarianism, and oppression have implications for present-day society. Erroneously infamous as a South American Nazi haven, little-known Paraguay presents a uniquely resilient indigenous linguistic character and perhaps the deepest authoritarian tradition in Latin America. The current article argues that the disruption of colonial legacies and hegemonic political practices, which are oppressive to low-income, rural populations and particularly injurious to indigenous-descended Paraguayans, can and should come "from below," from the people, and not from the government. I argue that a way forward is through transformative education, drawing heavily on critical pedagogy theorists such as Paolo Freire and others to reflect on the propensity for education to change society.