Summary Of The Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara

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"The Lesson” is a short story by Toni Cade Bambara published in 1972. The story is written in the first-person narrative by a young black girl named Sylvia, who lives in Harlem. Sylvia reflects on when she was young, and how a woman named Miss Moore moved into her neighborhood that took no pride in her appearance but spoke properly. Sylvia despised Miss Moore, claiming that all she did was teach them boring information. However, it is clear based on Sylvia’s diction that she is from a poorly educated, low-income area herself, “You got some ole dumb shit foolishness you want somebody to go for, you send for Aunt Gretchen” (Bambara 98). Sylvia uses a frequent amount of slang and curse words for a young child and scoffs at the idea of learning
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Summary Of The Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara

In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, the story’s theme centers on education; the need for education and the importance of knowledge to promote racial and economic equality. It depicts how learning can lead to discomfort, but that discomfort is vital for a positive change. For the children living in the slums, Miss Moore takes upon herself the “responsibility for the young ones’ education” and exposes them to the world outside of their neighborhood and the truths it holds. As Miss Moore states, “where…

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