Symbolism in "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara.

Toni Cade Bambara's short story, "The Lesson," takes place in inner city New York. The main character, Sylvia, is a fourteen year old African American girl, who tells the story in a first person narrative. Sylvia mentions Miss Moore, a teacher who felt that it was her duty to help underprivileged children learn. Miss Moore felt there was a lesson to learn at FAO Schwartz, a very expensive, upper class toy store in downtown Manhattan. …

…American to be elevated in society. In "the lesson," Sylvia's attitude toward education is very negative. Sylvia even dislikes Miss Moore, because of her college degree, saying "I'm really hating this nappy head bitch and her goddamn college degree" (109). Throughout the story, Bambara shows that the kids are not on an equal footing with most people. Through "the lesson" Bambara shows that the only way that the kids can be considered equal is through education.