Equality in America
In Toni Cade Bambara’s short story, “The Lesson”, Bambara vividly illustrates the fundamental existence of varying social statuses and wealth allocation. The theme of this story stresses the unequal distribution of wealth between different social classes in America, how this divide often reflects racial differences, and the importance of educating people to realize that this gap exists. In addition, it also attempts to encourage people to not become complacent, but to instead strive for greater achievement and standing in society. As the story unfolds, the protagonist, Sylvia, originally displays a defiant attitude. However, she eventually discovers a desire to better understand social classes, and to close the gap between …show more content…
They clearly see the contrast between their black neighborhood and the store where white people shop. Several times throughout the story the children say or think, “white folks crazy” because they cannot fathom the lifestyle that the white people have (para. 3). The awareness of how the ideals of democracy and equal opportunity have failed people of color starts to dawn on the group. After the trip, Sugar says to Miss Moore, “I think… that this is not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough, don’t it?” (para. 51). Here Bambara tries to show her readers how it is oftentimes a lot harder for colored people to attain higher standings, and much more common for the white people to own a majority of the wealth in the nation. Bambara uses the children’s improper and profane language, as well as the white people’s superior clothing to contrast the differences between white and colored people. The social gap was so large, that the children felt shame and hesitation to even enter the toy store. Although Sylvia tells herself before going into the store that she has “as much right to go in as anybody”, she clearly doesn’t believe herself as she feels a “funny” shame and struggles to bring herself into the store (para. 40). Perhaps unconsciously, or at least unwilling to admit to herself, Sylvia feels a sense of inferiority in the store …show more content…
Therefore, instead of just lecturing the children on the gap between social classes in America, Miss Moore elects to personally show them. The experience of going to the F.A.O. Schwarz toy shop and seeing how much the toys cost, although maybe unknowingly to the children, changed the outlook that they had on their own lives and their position in the world in terms of social classes. Knowing what other people could spend on toys alone shocked the children and provoked considerable thought. In a way, it angered them. When Sylvia figures out how much the sailboat costs, she says that this pisses her off (para. 26). And when they go into the store, Sylvia is jealous of the boat and wants to “punch somebody in the mouth” (para. 41). The visual representation and confirmation of their place in society made an impression on the children much deeper than any classroom lecture would have. Because the children had never seen or known another life, they never questioned their social standing and that inadvertently led to a sense of
In Toni Cade Bambara’s short story, “The Lesson”, Bambara vividly illustrates the fundamental existence of varying social statuses and wealth allocation. The theme of this story stresses the unequal distribution of wealth between different social classes in America, how this divide often reflects racial differences, and the importance of educating people to realize that this gap exists. In addition, it also attempts to encourage people to not become complacent, but to instead strive for greater achievement and standing in society. As the story unfolds, the protagonist, Sylvia, originally displays a defiant attitude. However, she eventually discovers a desire to better understand social classes, and to close the gap between …show more content…
They clearly see the contrast between their black neighborhood and the store where white people shop. Several times throughout the story the children say or think, “white folks crazy” because they cannot fathom the lifestyle that the white people have (para. 3). The awareness of how the ideals of democracy and equal opportunity have failed people of color starts to dawn on the group. After the trip, Sugar says to Miss Moore, “I think… that this is not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough, don’t it?” (para. 51). Here Bambara tries to show her readers how it is oftentimes a lot harder for colored people to attain higher standings, and much more common for the white people to own a majority of the wealth in the nation. Bambara uses the children’s improper and profane language, as well as the white people’s superior clothing to contrast the differences between white and colored people. The social gap was so large, that the children felt shame and hesitation to even enter the toy store. Although Sylvia tells herself before going into the store that she has “as much right to go in as anybody”, she clearly doesn’t believe herself as she feels a “funny” shame and struggles to bring herself into the store (para. 40). Perhaps unconsciously, or at least unwilling to admit to herself, Sylvia feels a sense of inferiority in the store …show more content…
Therefore, instead of just lecturing the children on the gap between social classes in America, Miss Moore elects to personally show them. The experience of going to the F.A.O. Schwarz toy shop and seeing how much the toys cost, although maybe unknowingly to the children, changed the outlook that they had on their own lives and their position in the world in terms of social classes. Knowing what other people could spend on toys alone shocked the children and provoked considerable thought. In a way, it angered them. When Sylvia figures out how much the sailboat costs, she says that this pisses her off (para. 26). And when they go into the store, Sylvia is jealous of the boat and wants to “punch somebody in the mouth” (para. 41). The visual representation and confirmation of their place in society made an impression on the children much deeper than any classroom lecture would have. Because the children had never seen or known another life, they never questioned their social standing and that inadvertently led to a sense of