“The Lesson” Short Story by Toni Cade Bambara

The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara is a powerful story that engages me with its suspenseful plot and well-developed characters. The story follows a group of poor African American kids who are gathered together on a hot summer day to learn about life from an elderly lady named Mrs. Moore (Bambara 1). However, the lesson quickly takes a turn when Mrs. Moore exposes the children to the new environment and teaches them about money; this changes their perspective on life. This story is particularly relevant today, given the current state of race relations in America. As a result, The Lesson is an excellent example of how literature can engage readers on many different levels; not only does it provide an entertaining story. Similarly, it makes readers think about important issues such as poverty and racism.

The interesting instance is how Miss Moore takes it upon herself to teach a group of young children from the slum about the value of money. By showing them the importance of money and saving, Miss Moore also strongly instills in them a love for learning (Bambara 1). Miss Moore demonstrates that all students deserve an equal opportunity in education. Conversely, I find aspects of the story’s presentation interesting. I am specifically interested in how the story is narrated from the perspective of a child. This allows for a certain level of innocence to be present in the story, which makes the events that occur all the more impactful. Additionally, I appreciate how Bambara does not fear discussing difficult topics, such as poverty and race relations. Indeed, the presentation of the story is compelling and thought-provoking. The author’s idea is that although the children can be poor, they can still be given love to eradicate their inferiority by supporting their education and traveling with them.

Work Cited

Bambara, Toni Cade. The Lesson. n.d., pp.1-6.

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