Brendan Kelso
Professor Otto
English Comp II
22 February 2016
A Penny for Her Thoughts in Toni Cade Bambara’s
“The Lesson” Think back in your life when there was someone other than a teacher who used their knowledge and experiences to help you understand something. Now imagine how things would have been different if they never did that with you. In some way, shape, or form someone taught you lessons about life, though not formal like school, it was education. In “The Lesson”, Toni Bambara introduces us to children who live in poverty and how the actions of one educated person could change their lives. Education for children like Sylvia in poverty hurting neighborhoods is difficult to receive, though it is the primary way to move past the social …show more content…
In the story Miss Moore is the only educated black woman in Sylvia and Sugar’s neighborhood. Sugar, who is Sylvia’s best friend and cousin, shares the experiences and lessons that Miss Moore taught in their community because she is the main source of any education for the girls during the story. Miss Moore was a rare spectacle because most children would “go to the pool or the show where it’s cool” (96), however the girls are being forced by their parents to meet with Miss Moore. In the eyes of the parents, “…it was only right that she should take responsibility for the young ones’ education” (96). The parents realize that it is very important for their children, but they do not always take their own advice and sometimes fail to uphold some of their own obligations to their children. Families that live in poverty downtrodden communities do not always produce the best role models they need for their children, and sometimes discourages them. At times, parents are displeased towards role models like Miss Moore for no reason. Sylvia picks up on this when she hears the grownups talking about Miss Moore, “behind her back like a dog” (96). Despite that, the parents “shape and crisp up our clothes” (96), before the kids are allowed to see Miss Moore. This shows a two sidedness of the parents as they would talk about Miss Moore behind her back and never directly. With this attitude what is …show more content…
Miss Moore brings the children to downtown New York for a field trip to FAO Schwarz, for one of her lessons that day. After arriving on Fifth Ave, it appears this becomes the first real impression the kids have ever had of white folk. Again, keeping in mind the period of time this was in, and the remembering that these children live in continuous poverty. Their first impression is that white folk are very different from them, “. . . everybody dressed up in stockings. One lady in a fur coat, hot as it is. White folks crazy” (97) Sylvia says, pointing out that they were all dressed up. Additionally, Sugar asks Miss Moore, “Can We Steal?” (97) when they are nearing FAO Schwarz toy store. This would seem to be a no-brainer answer for most, but she was asking a legitimate question on her own behalf. These comments are genuine feelings spoken from the mouths of Sylvia and Sugar. It is accepted that when experiencing something new, a no-brainer question to some, will be inquired about from others as part of new processes. Broadening a young mind by viewing how others are different or relate to them is an important part of
Professor Otto
English Comp II
22 February 2016
A Penny for Her Thoughts in Toni Cade Bambara’s
“The Lesson” Think back in your life when there was someone other than a teacher who used their knowledge and experiences to help you understand something. Now imagine how things would have been different if they never did that with you. In some way, shape, or form someone taught you lessons about life, though not formal like school, it was education. In “The Lesson”, Toni Bambara introduces us to children who live in poverty and how the actions of one educated person could change their lives. Education for children like Sylvia in poverty hurting neighborhoods is difficult to receive, though it is the primary way to move past the social …show more content…
In the story Miss Moore is the only educated black woman in Sylvia and Sugar’s neighborhood. Sugar, who is Sylvia’s best friend and cousin, shares the experiences and lessons that Miss Moore taught in their community because she is the main source of any education for the girls during the story. Miss Moore was a rare spectacle because most children would “go to the pool or the show where it’s cool” (96), however the girls are being forced by their parents to meet with Miss Moore. In the eyes of the parents, “…it was only right that she should take responsibility for the young ones’ education” (96). The parents realize that it is very important for their children, but they do not always take their own advice and sometimes fail to uphold some of their own obligations to their children. Families that live in poverty downtrodden communities do not always produce the best role models they need for their children, and sometimes discourages them. At times, parents are displeased towards role models like Miss Moore for no reason. Sylvia picks up on this when she hears the grownups talking about Miss Moore, “behind her back like a dog” (96). Despite that, the parents “shape and crisp up our clothes” (96), before the kids are allowed to see Miss Moore. This shows a two sidedness of the parents as they would talk about Miss Moore behind her back and never directly. With this attitude what is …show more content…
Miss Moore brings the children to downtown New York for a field trip to FAO Schwarz, for one of her lessons that day. After arriving on Fifth Ave, it appears this becomes the first real impression the kids have ever had of white folk. Again, keeping in mind the period of time this was in, and the remembering that these children live in continuous poverty. Their first impression is that white folk are very different from them, “. . . everybody dressed up in stockings. One lady in a fur coat, hot as it is. White folks crazy” (97) Sylvia says, pointing out that they were all dressed up. Additionally, Sugar asks Miss Moore, “Can We Steal?” (97) when they are nearing FAO Schwarz toy store. This would seem to be a no-brainer answer for most, but she was asking a legitimate question on her own behalf. These comments are genuine feelings spoken from the mouths of Sylvia and Sugar. It is accepted that when experiencing something new, a no-brainer question to some, will be inquired about from others as part of new processes. Broadening a young mind by viewing how others are different or relate to them is an important part of