Bambara In The Lessons Analysis

Thao Trinh
English 1B
Basic Outline Structure
I. Introduction:

A. Historical Background Information / Historical Context
From the 1950s through the 1970s, movements for civil and social rights, equality, and justice swept the United States.
Racism and ethnic discrimination in the United States has been a major issue since the colonial era and the slave era.
In addition, racism which had been viewed primarily as a problem in the Southern states, burst onto the national consciousness following the Great Migration.
Black Americans faced many disadvantages during the 1950 's. In short they were discriminated; from public services, and restaurants. After the American Civil War in 1865, black people in the American south were no longer
slaves. But they had never gained equality with whites. Blacks had remained second classed citizens throughout their movement to America, with the worst paid unskilled jobs in farms and factories.
Lorraine Hansberry and Toni Cade Bambara expose the racial injustice and socio-economic inequalities imposed on African Americans.
B. Thesis statement: The characters in Lorraine Hansberry’s story are motivated by their fears, which lead to their drastic actions; while children in Toni Cade Bambara’s story directly educate the impoverished children to raise them from poverty. However, both the stories are showed that they stand up to break injustice and hoping in their future.
II. Body—MAKE SURE YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS OFTEN DIRECTLY AND EXPLICITLY STATE HOW THE TWO WORKS ARE SIMILAR AND DIFFERENT TO EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF THE NARROWED FOCUS THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN FOR BOTH YOUR PAPER AND YOUR THESIS

A. A main point that supports your thesis: A Raisin in the Sun reflect the racial injustice and socio-economic inequalities life of African American.
1. Racism was the root cause of all the discrimination and injustice African Americans faced.
a. This is exemplified in A Raisin in the Sun when mama buys a new house in an all-white neighborhood. Mr. Lindner from the Clybourne Park Association offers to buy the Youngers new home to prevent them from moving in as they were a black family.
b. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the Younger family is facing its own war against racism in the Chicago slums. America’s complicated history of racial tension between black Americans and white Americans is ingrained into the Youngers’ everyday lives.
Quotes: “I am sure you people must be aware of some of……page 494)

2. Not only do these characters feel confined by their physical home space, they also feel restricted by the social roles they’ve been assigned.
a.
For example, socially-progressive Beneatha (Bennie) studies to become a doctor, despite the financial strain it puts on the low-income family.
b. Walter works as a chauffeur for a white man, but he dreams of opening a liquor store with his buddies and making more money for his family.
c. we learn that Ruth is pregnant, which only complicates the family situation. The family is not affluent enough to provide for another life, so Ruth prepares to abort her child. B. Transition + another main point that supports your argument in your thesis: In The Lessons, Bambara reflects the racial injustice and socio-economic inequalities life of African American.
1. Children in The Lessons are black and poor
a. The story is a lesson and a window for the reader into Bambara’s reality, as much as it is a lesson and a window for the young female harlemite, Sylvia, who is the main character.
b. The Lesson” is a first person narrative told by a young, poor, black girl growing up in Harlem in an unspecified time period known only as “Back in the days when everyone was old and stupid or young and foolish and me and Sugar were the only ones just
right.
c. The story is about a trip initiated by a local woman, who being the only educated person in the neighborhood, has taken it upon herself to expose the unappreciative children of the neighborhood to the world outside of their oppressed community.
d. The narrator, Sylvia, symbolizes children from a lower class section of cities, who are taught about wealth outside their surroundings and that wealth is not just handed to people
e. The expensive toys…

2. Support from story (provide a quote): “$100 for toy sail boats…” “White folf crazy” (page 1146, 1147)
3. Reflection (Comment on how support relates to your main point and thesis. Make a direct connection): It is likely that Miss Moore chose to visit a toy store to emphasize the amount of money that some Americans spend on items that are purely for leisure, and so that the items within the store would catch the children attention.

C. Transition + another main point that supports your argument in your thesis: The characters in Lorraine Hansberry’s story are motivated by their fears, which lead to their drastic actions
1. Fear from poverty
a. Walter’s fear= bad investment
b. Beneatha’s fear: discreetly grabs at various unique activities, which causes her focus of becoming a doctor. She distracts herself.
2.Support from literary criticism about A Raisin in the Sun (provide quotation OR paraphrase). You can agree or disagree with the idea in the criticism: An overall of “Raisin in the Sun” by Single Zachary ….

3.
Reflection (Comment on how support relates to your main point and thesis. Make a direct connection):

C. Transition + another main point that supports your argument in your thesis:
a. In The Lessons, The story is a lessons and a window for the readers onto Bambara’s reality, as much as it is a lesson and a window for the young female marmite, Sylia, who is the main character…
b. The children see how much a particular boat cost, and they are all jaw-dropped and astonished. The children realize how precious money really is sometimes, and how scarce it is for people of their community to have what they own. Bambara states, poor people have to wake up and demand their share of the pie´ (13.) Therefore, the children learn that money does not just grow off trees. It does not matter the color of your skin or where you come from, people have to work hard for the things they want in life.
3. Support from literary criticism about the story (provide quotation OR paraphrase). You can agree or disagree with the criticism:

III. Conclusion
Restate the thesis to the reader. Elaborate on historical context. Leave him/her thinking by explaining how this issue and these works are important to American society today.
Restate the
thesis
Similarities and differences
Hoping a better life: American Dream

Work Cited:
Ingle, Zachary. “White Fear” And The Studio System: A Re-Evaluation Of Hansberry’s Original Screenplay Of “A Raisin In The Sun." Literature Film Quarterly 37.3 (2009): 184-193. Academic Search Premier. Web.6 May 2014.
Graves, Roy Neil. "Bambara 's The Lesson." Explicator 66.4 (2008): 214-217. Academic Search Premier. Web.6 May 6, 2014.
Wright, Katy M. "The role of dialect representation in speaking from the margins: 'The Lesson ' of Toni Cade Bambara. " Style Spring 2008: 73+. Biography in Context. Web. 6 May 2014.