Abstract
The paper looks at Toni Cade Bambara's "The Lesson" and discusses what exactly it is that the children in the story learn from the odd woman in the tale, Miss Moore, who subtly forces them to re-examine the way in which they have always viewed the world around them. Specifically, the paper argues that Miss Moore teaches these children what their parents dare not say in their presence: America and all its glittering potential exists for somebody else's pleasure, not for theirs. The paper looks at the negative view the narrator and her young friends hold of Miss Moore and how this suggests that, maybe, these children are unused to seeing a tough-minded and well-educated black woman in their midst. Moving forward, the paper looks at how Miss Moore slowly impresses upon the children the harsh realities of being black in white America; the moment of epiphany does not arrive immediately, but it slowly begins to formulate in the minds of the youngsters as they spend time at the store with the outrageously-priced items. From there, the paper looks at the aforementioned moment of epiphany and how that moment brings into sharp relief the grim fact that there are people - white people - who have more money to spend on mindless trinkets than many black families have to spend on food and shelter; America, it seems, is not willing to give all Americans an equal share in the pie. The paper shows how those "boring" lessons with Miss Moore are life lessons that awaken the children's incipient racial and social consciousnesses.

From the Paper
"The following paper will look at Toni Cade Bambara's "The Lesson" and discuss what exactly it is that the children in the story learn from the odd woman in the tale, Miss Moore, who subtly forces them to re-examine the way in which they have always viewed the world around them. Specifically, the ensuing paper will argue that Miss Moore teaches these children what their parents dare not say in their presence: America and all its glittering potential exists for somebody else's pleasure, not for theirs. However, the children do not immediately grasp the importance of Miss Moore in shaping their world-view: the essay will commence by looking

Tags:toni, cade, bambara

Abstract
This study examine the nature of money and class representation in the plot of the short story "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara. The author points out that Miss Moore's lesson on money reflects the character development of a little girl who experiences social inequality through poverty. The paper relates that the reader feels frustration with Sylvia's refusal to learn anything from Miss Moore, but clearly she shows intelligence, which helps Sylvia to realize the gravity of economic division between classes.

From the Paper
"This study examine the nature of money and class representation in the plot of the short story "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara. By analyzing the class differences between ghetto and high-class society, one ... can see how Sylvia's view on money is different than a reader's better-educated interpretation on the subject of money. By examining Bambara's characterization of Sylvia, and her views on money, we can learn how a great rift exists between the poor and the rich. In essence, the literary themes of character development, plot structure and social inequality perspectives examines within the short story "The Lesson"."

Tags:bambara, story, african

Abstract
This paper explains that, in "The Communist Manifesto", Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx deplore the emergence of classes, such as the bourgeois and the proletariat, which they consider to be products of the rise and dominance of capitalism in Europe. The author points out that, in "The Lesson", Toni Cade Bambara relates how the African-American children, who are intimidated by the displays of white wealth they see on Fifth Avenue, are reluctant to enter the F.A.O. Schwarz toy store and express their resentment through scorn. The paper demonstrates how Bambara uses plot, themes, characterizations and the symbolism of the settings to create the conflict between social classes that is also suggested by Engels and Marx. The paper includes quotations from the book.

From the Paper
"Examples from "The Communist Manifesto" and this scene from "The Lesson" confirm this and demonstrate how literature can be an ideological force. For example, Marx himself observed that literature is not a static mirror image of culture; rather it is itself a contributing force to the social dialectic of history. Furthermore, he noted that literature does not just reflect the hegemony of the ruling class; it also reflects the oppositional forces that counter that hegemony. It carries the vestigial traces of past modes of production and the germs of the future modes of production."

Tags:classes, conflict, children, symbolism, anti-authoritarian

Abstract
The paper examines the class status, race issues and style in Dorothy Parker's and Toni Cade Bambara's works. The paper points out the obvious barriers that prevent the characters in both of these stories to actually gain access to a higher-class status.

Tags:parker, class, race

Abstract
This paper reviews the short story, "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara, in which a group of African-American children goes with Miss Moore, a college-educated black woman, out of their New York City neighborhood to the FAO Schwartz store. The author points out that Sylvia, the narrator, demonstrates a general level of irritation throughout the story, which is a communicative device to allow the reader to quickly get to the heart of Sylvia's personality. The paper stresses that Sugar, who is more compliant and more of a follower than Sylvia, provides someone for Sylvia to interact with, so the story can be told as it unfolds rather than as a past-tense narrative.

From the Paper
"Sylvia narrates the story. Her annoyance over having to go with Miss Moore on another one her trips that always include lectures is evident in her comments: "And the starch in my pinafore scratching the shit "outta" me and I'm really hating this nappy-head bitch and her goddamn college degree. I'd much rather go to the pool or to the show where it's cool." "

Tags:college, group, narrator, device, follower

Abstract
This paper explains that the protagonist, Squeaky, learns a valuable lesson about the worth of others by noticing that her brother, Raymond, who is "not quite right", runs well in the May Day race. The author points out that Squeaky seeing Raymond in a different light causes her to see not only herself in a different way, but also the character, Gretchen. The paper concludes that Raymond's simple act of running allows Squeaky to realize that everyone has something to offer, no matter how they may seem on the surface.

From the Paper
"Squeaky no longer sees Gretchen as competition; she sees her as someone with whom she has something in common. She writes, "Maybe she'd like to help me coach Raymond", which indicates that she wants to be her friend. With this thought in mind, as the winners of the race are announced, Squeaky and Gretchen exchange a "great big smile of respect between us. It's about as real a smile as girls can do for each other, considering she don't practice real smiling every day"."

Tags:race, caretaker, coach, competition, lesson

Abstract
This paper examines Toni Cade Bambara's short story,'The Lesson,' concentrating on the story's main theme of racial and economic inequality. It looks at the valuable lessons the children learn on a field trip to an upscale toy store.

From the Paper
"In the short story "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara, a group of African-American children are confronted with class and economic distinctions for the first time during a trip to F A O Schwartz in New York. Sylvia the story's narrator is clearly affected by ..."

Tags:bambara, the lesson, sylvia, racial, economic, political, inequality, injustice, education

Abstract
This paper discusses the problem of providing equal standards in the United States public education system for every child living in the country, regardless of race, religion, or class, as stipulated by law. The paper points out that schools in impoverished, mostly urban areas are far inferior to those in more well-to-do areas. The paper analyzes this phenomenon by closely examining Jonathan Kozol's "Savage Inequalities", a factual look at inner city schools, and the fictional story "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara. The paper concludes that the inequality is due to an unfair allocation of funding, and this in turn makes it much more difficult for underprivileged children to succeed.

From the Paper
"Another proof of the extreme racism involved is the reaction to every request made to desegregate the school systems. Parents of white children do not want to allow their children to attend schools with the minority children because many of them fear it would lower the level of the education their children receive. Studies have proved that desegregation would actually have the opposite effect because when surrounded by over-achievers, the under-achievers may be inspired to work harder, therefore succeeding more than ever before. That is the true fear of suburban parents, and it is a fear they will not soon admit to. The reason desegregation has not yet occurred is because, naturally, every parent wants what is best for their child, but a school with children of all different backgrounds means ultimately more rivalry in the business world. "

Tags:poverty, inequality, race, class

Abstract
Through an analysis of The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara and Z.Z. Packer's "Brownies", this paper focuses on racial, economic and financial injustice and how society tends to set up certain groups to fail. It looks at how the books highlight the lives of young black children in the city who are introduced to the outrageous spending of white people in one of New York City's famous toy stores.

From the Paper
""The Lesson", tells the story of a group of young African-American children living in New York. When an educated woman named Miss Moore who lives on their block brings them to the famous F.A.O. Schwarz, they experience injustice first hand. The narrator Sylvia is a bold and brazen character who finds herself hesitant to walk inside the store. "Not that I'm scared, what's there to be afraid of, just a toy store. But I feel funny, shame. But what I got to be shamed about? Got as much right to go in as anybody" (1111). After making it inside the store, Sylvia finds herself angry; angry that Miss Moore has ruined her day by bringing her to the store, and angry that some people can afford to spend the same money on toys that it costs to feed her family for weeks. "

Tags:black, african-american, education, failure

Abstract
This paper explores ideas of race, gender, and identity in Toni Cade Bambara's short story "The Hammer Man". The author believes that the story suggests that gender and ideas of "norms" can be used either to oppress or to help people.