The Lesson - Toni Cade Bambara

Miss Moore teaches a group of black teens in the ghetto. She lives there herself, but is well educated and wants to teach them too. She takes the group of kids to F.A.O Schwarz, an expensive toy store. The kids look in the window and can't believe the prices of the things they see. There is a sailboat for $1195, and the kids comment on how they could build a sailboat for 50 cents with supplies from the store. They also see a paperweight made of fused stones, but only one of them has a desk so this makes no sense to them. There is also a $35 toy, this makes the kids say that you could buy a new bunk beds for her brothers, pay for piano lessons, and the rent. When the kids leave one says "Imagine for a minute what kind of society it is in which some people can spend on a toy what it would cost to feed a family of 6 or 7 for a year. What do you think?" "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?"


This is a story that portray Marxism very well. Society is a constant power struggle. To these children, they know nothing about what they are missing out on. They have no concept of high dollar amounts, which sets them behind in the race for power and money. The rich white people on the other hand, have the power in the society and look down on those who do not have as much as they do. This is also psychological. People with more feel like they're better because they have been granted with better opportunities. This also goes the other way. These children have been raised in a family where not going to college and working right away is what has to happen. This makes them think that this is the best they can achieve in life. They also have no concept of high dollar amounts, which would put them behind if they did come upon a lot of money. They would spend a lot of it, because they would not know how far that money would get them. Another psychological prospect of the story is what the kids learn. Going into the store the felt uncomfortable for them, as if they shouldn't be allowed in there. In an equal society no one should feel that. The kids take this out of the store with them and realize that they should be given more opportunities than they are.