An Analysis Of Toni Cade Bambara's The Lesson

short stories “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara and “Battle Royal” by Ralph Ellison, the authors use the idea of race determining the social structure in America where Blacks are the inferior people.
In Bambara’s “The Lesson”, she portrays a poverty-stricken neighborhood where the story’s narrator and protagonist spends her summer days. Silvia, the lead character is a young African-American girl, reluctant to acknowledge her social status as a victim of poverty. Fortunately, for her and other youth in her neighborhood, there is a woman by the name of Miss Moore who enjoys educating the children. On the one hand Sylvia absolutely despises Miss Moore for her properness, including: the way she dresses, her form of speaking, and especially the work she makes the kids do during the hot summer months. One day, Miss Moore brings the group to a predominantly white toy shop. Sylvia feels completely uncomfortable standing in a store filled with toys that she cannot afford. Sylvia along with her friends question how people can spend ridiculous amounts of money on toys when they themselves need to struggle to survive. One of the kids point out how the store is an example of how undemocratic the government truly is. “Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough don’t it?”-This was the message Ms. Moore was trying to teach. Sylvia and her friends continue to believe that they are content with the “piece of pie” they struggle with on a daily basis. Ms. Moore attempts to inspire them to want more out of life, “quote”. Although Sylvia acts as though she does not need more than what she has it is obvious that she is very aware of the unjust between the rich and the poor and that she is at the shorter end of the stick....

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... the only way blacks can find their proper place in society is to be visible once again (51 Ellison)through any necessary means.
As shown in Bambara’s other pieces one may notice she celebrates African-American culture and community, at times juxtaposing white america. She challenges her readers to think outside of what is accepted in society. Bambara’s stories often feature a young female protagonist, discovering the struggles an African-American but who questions societies values in hopes of mirroring and educating the reader. In “The Lesson”, Sylvia is Bambara’s young, intelligent, and proud black protagonist. She is surrounded by other youngsters who together to help one another explore the issues that they face as underprivileged black youth of America. Bambara’s stories are helpfully didactic showing ways that an individual can demand more for themselves.