Bambara The Lesson

Economic inequality is something that has been a problem in the United States for years and has not gotten much better. The author, Toni Cade Bambara, wrote a short story called “The Lesson” which is focused on economic inequality during the sixties. Bambara especially focused on the economic inequality in African American communities. She, also, focused on social equality of women and African Americans (Champion 119). Most of her short stories expose social inequalities and try to encourage people to work together to gain economic and social equality. She writes about inequality, civil rights, and women's rights because she was an African American and Women's rights activist (Champion 121). In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, the short story
Also, on their way to F. A. O. Schwartz, Sylvia notices a lady wearing a big fur coat and points out that it is too hot to be wearing something like that. Sylvia’s observation is foreshadowing what she will notice in the toy store because it symbolizes “frivolous spending and ostentatious flaunting of wealth” (Champion 119). Once they arrive at F.A.O. Schwartz, Miss Moore has the children look into the window before they go inside. At first, Sylvia does not notice an economic structure hierarchically but, as the children get closer to the store, “they begin to use comparisons that suggest they are becoming aware of class divisions (Champion 74). As Laurie Champion states in “‘Passing It Along in the Relay’: Struggles for Economic Equality in Toni Cade Bambara’s ‘Raymond’s Run’ and ‘The Lesson,’” Sylvia becomes progressively aware of the significance of Miss Moore’s trip to F.A.O. Schwartz while she is looking through the window at the toys (Champion 74). The children notice how expensive the toys are and, specifically, point out the clown, paperweight, sailboat, and microscope. Once Sylvia notices the prices, she feels anguish and confusion but, she does not know why she feels that way (Chamion 74). She becomes progressively angry at Miss Moore as she sees the price tags because Miss Moore forced the lesson upon her (Korb 3). At one point, Sylvia claims that Miss Moore is not that smart because she kept the four dollars that Miss Moore gave her for the taxi ride since Sylvia says that the taxi driver does not need the money as bad as her (Bambara 147). “The unpleasant awareness of the unfairness of the social and economic system that prevails…” (Korb 1) is the lesson that Miss Moore is trying to teach the children and Sylvia is unsure of why she is anguished because it