The Lesson

by Toni Cade Bambara

...teacher takes her inner city students to FAO Swhwart

Genres: Short Stories, School, Fiction, Classics, Read For School, College, American

13 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Toni Cade Bambara, born Miltona Mirkin Cade (March 25, 1939 – December 9, 1995) was an African-American author, documentary film-maker, social activist and college professor.

Toni Cade Bambara was born in New York City to parents Walter and Helen (Henderson) Cade. She grew up in Harlem, Bedford Stuyvesant (Brooklyn), Queens and New Jersey. In 1970 she changed her name to include the name of a West African ethnic group, Bambara.

Bambara graduated from Queens College with a B.A. in Theater Arts/English Literature in 1959, then studied mime at the Ecole de Mime Etienne Decroux in Paris, France. She also became interested in dance before completing her master's degree in American studies at City College, New York (from 1962), while serving as program director of Colony Settlement House in Brooklyn. She has also worked for New York social services and as a recreation director in the psychiatric ward of Metropolitan hospital. From 1965 to 1969 she was with City College's Search for Education, Elevation, Knowledge-program. She taught English, published material and worked with SEEK's black theatre group. She was made assistant professor of English at Rutgers University's new Livingston College in 1969, was visiting professor in Afro-American Studies at Emory University and at Atlanta University (1977), where she also taught at the School of Social Work (until 1979). She was writer-in-residence at Neighborhood Arts Center (1975–79), at Stephens College at Columbia, Missouri (1976) and at Atlanta's Spelman College (1978–79). From 1986 she taught film-script writing at Louis Massiah's Scribe Video Center in Philadelphia.

Bambara participated in several community and activist organizations, and her work was influenced by the Civil Rights and Black Nationalist movements of the 1960s. She went on propaganda trips to Cuba in 1973 and to Vietnam in 1975. She moved to Atlanta, GA, with her daughter, Karma Bene, and became a founding member of the Southern Collective of African-American Writers.

Toni Cade Bambara was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1993 and died of it in 1995, at the age of 56.

(from Wikipedia)

aka Toni Cade

Reviews

[Ayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

i had to read this for uni. nice lesson, that is all

[leynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS GREAT. I can totally see why it's such a popular short story on school curricula. It even made me go into a Toni Cade Bambara rabbit whole, only to realise that she is seriously UNDER-APPRECIATED and a lot of her work is hard to find/out of print. I'm definitely putting her short story collection Gorilla, My Love on my reading list.

"The Lesson" is told from the perspective of Sylvia, a young Black girl growing up in a poor district in Brooklyn (Bambara herself was born in New York and grew up in Harlem – which might have served as inspiration for this story). The story takes place on the day Miss Moore takes some of the neighborhood kids to the fancy FAO Schwarz Toy Store in Manhattan, where toys are aimed at white customers and are extremely expensive. The kids realise that some of these toys cost more than their households' yearly incomes.

The lesson on economic inequality is not lost on the kids, though some, Sylvia among them, refuse to acknowledge it. They're left with an uneasy feeling, but unwilling to truly contemplate and dissect how this unjust economic and social system disadvantages them and their people.

It was fascinating to see Sylvia's contempt of Miss Moore. She is too young (maybe even too uneducated) to blame the system. However, there is a shift in the story and toward the end, Sylvia seeks solitude to contemplate the events of the day. She becomes angry ("but I sure want to punch somebody in the mouth") – which is a natural reaction – as well as defensive: "ain't nobody gonna beat me at nuthin."

It's a very short short story and Toni Cade Bambara's intent is more than clear – I even understand people who complain that she beats you over the head with it. Nonetheless, I found the story extremely effective and also think I would've benefited had I read it in school. I love the narrative voice that Toni Cade Bambara implements – in the true tradition of Zora Neale Hurston, she opts for a very relaxed and informal tone, not caring about standard English but rather immortalising how these group of Black kids talk. And that means showing their rudeness and crassness as well as their more vulnerable and tender moments.

"The Lesson" is an outstanding story that feels a lot more realistic and authentic than the stuff one usually reads. "Ain't nobody gonna beat me at nuthin." – you tell 'em, Sylvia, you tell 'em!

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, I must thank Julie Grippo, whose exquisite taste in books often inspires me, and whose very impressive review of Toni Cade Bambara's Gorilla, My Love, piqued my interest in the author's work.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


The Lesson being on display in the aforementioned collection, and having decided to try the audio version available on YouTube, I proceeded with optimistic caution. In fact, I'd fully intended to tackle this one in 2019, but time is evasive, you know?

In hindsight, Bambara's tale was worth the wait...for me, at least. As with any story, it's not going to be for everyone, and I understand why it's not regarded higher by other readers. There wasn't really a clear plot. Some might say there was no plot, period. Bambara's aptly titled The Lesson was akin to a day in the life (not even a whole day,) of Sylvia, Sugar, Mercedes, and their ragtag group of ungrateful friends, and their teacher, Miss Moore, in FAO Schwarz, in Manhattan, New York.

The beauty of the tale was the direct juxtaposition in the classes (poor, middle class, upper-middle class, the elite,) and the oppressive state of American-Americans, particularly in the early 1970's, which seemed to be when the story took place. Not that African-Americans no longer feel oppressed, or that they aren't oppressed, but Bambara was writing from a very personal place, and I love that. I fully appreciate and respect her passion; her outcry, if you will.

The characters, though...they were hilarious. And pretentious. Obnoxious. Bambara imbued them with life, with values and opinions all their own, and she told the story in a long-winded, stream-of-consciousness, present tense fashion, with honesty and integrity intact.

The narrator, Michael DuBon, was spot-on with his numerous voice inflections. Listening to him was like I was right there alongside these memorable characters, if only for the twenty minute running time, and if only invisibly. His performance was divine.

This was my introduction to Toni Case Bambara. It won't be my last.


The YouTube version HERE:

https://youtu.be/7S8Va1gFpT4

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story is amazing. Anyone who thinks this story isn't amazing is crazy. The message, the tone, the theme it all makes sense. The way the words are used and Slviya's perspective. The author is genius. The message is really eye opening for people who have so much but don't realize it. Great story. Great. Great. Great.

[ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sylvia is too obnoxious and pretentious for my liking (she reminds me of Holden Caulfield to be quite honest), but I think the book has a great measage to deliver overall.

[Navy heart HamlinNBCT · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emergence of alternatives to socio-economic entrapment, poverty and racial divide begins with Bambara's Sylvia. A young quintessential icon of a sassy, cocky spirit is Sylvia's armour of choice -Perhaps a result of societal conditioning indicative of racial and gender biases but even so that is the drive of hope-In the racial divide of northern inequality and unrest -The emergence of a counterculturist future leader meant progress was possible .
-Sylvia, my favorite iconic metaphor of potential, is worth the risk of a day's failure of racial slurs, fights or clashes .-Apparently an ole black aunt is far more sage than the younger teachers in Sylvia's life-Meaningful progress means access to wealth, professionalism and power- Sylvia's aunt is no stranger to New York's alternative for the black American family-Self reliance, trust and a gradual release to autonomy . SAHNBCT

[Mimi.Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say this short essay was one of my best reads from my writing class. It was funny and educational. To me Miss Moore was positive, black power, feminist, teacher and a positive role model to a group of preteens that was bad ass kids that was trying to disrespect Miss Moore. She too strong for that and she is taking the time out her life even though she isn't "married or even their blood" as one of the kids said. She teaches economics which connected to sociology; Karl Marx's class struggle, psychology and science.

[Caroline Paxton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah, no. I didn't like it. I didn't see the point in any of that. The characters were obnoxious, the voice was unnecessarily difficult to read, and the paragraphs were super long. Also, I just hate things that are written in a dialect like that. Is that bad? Am I a bad person for liking correct grammar and spelling regardless of how uneducated a person may be? It frustrates me reading something that's incorrect on purpose.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5-3 stars.
The language was interesting to follow, but it was difficult to truly decipher what exactly the author wanted to portray. Other than, of course, the obvious between the line shimmer that shone through thanks to the teacher and how the narrator interpreted her.
Perhaps a closer reading might be of use, but that's all I have to say for now.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short story. A bit didactic, but I bet this would be a good discussion in school. Teacher takes her students to FAO Schwartz.

Read online in a pdf. From a list of Best Short Stories

[Mariella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captures an idea very well

[Rosmona · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐

[Shindora · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough, don't it?"

[Emi · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Comp II)

In Toni Cade Bambara's short story “The Lesson,” Sylvia's trip to the toy store becomes a moment of awakening that challenges her understanding of fairness and opportunity. At first, the trip seems like just another one of Miss Moore’s lessons that Sylvia doesn’t want to be part of. However, as the day unfolds, the experience pushes Sylvia to confront uncomfortable truths about wealth and inequality.
Through Sylvia’s sharp, defensive voice, Bambara shows how pride and anger can hide deeper realizations about injustice. Sylvia’s emotions reveal more than she intends: they show her struggle to protect herself from seeing how unfair the world really is. By the end of the story, something inside her has shifted; she begins to understand that her frustration comes not from Miss Moore, but from the unequal world she lives in, and she starts to feel a quiet determination to change it.
From the very beginning, Sylvia is irritated by Miss Moore and resistant to learning anything from her. She questions Miss Moore’s authority, wondering why they have to visit a place like the fancy toy store F.A.O. Schwarz. Once they arrive, however, Sylvia’s attitude begins to change as she notices the enormous price tags on the toys.
When she sees items costing hundreds of dollars, she reacts with shock and anger, exclaiming, “Who are these people that spend that much for performing clowns and $1,000 for toy sailboats?” This moment is important because her anger reveals more than just disbelief, it shows that the prices force her to think about inequality for the first time. The cost of the toys bothers her not just because they’re expensive, but because they expose a truth she has avoided: some people live with comfort and luxury, while others, like her and her friends, struggle for basic needs. In this way, Sylvia’s frustration is about more than toys; it’s about realizing that she and her friends live in a world where opportunity isn’t shared equally.
Meanwhile, Miss Moore wants the kids to see this inequality for themselves. Instead of lecturing them, she allows the experience to speak louder than any speech could. By asking questions like “What kind of society is it in which some people can spend on a toy what it would cost to feed a family of six or seven?” she forces them to think critically about what they are witnessing.
Most of the children laugh or lose focus, avoiding the discomfort that comes with seeing injustice. Sylvia, however, is different. Her silence shows that she’s thinking deeply, even if she refuses to admit it. Beneath her pride and defensiveness, Sylvia begins to understand that Miss Moore is right, and the lesson is slowly sinking in, whether she likes it or not.
By the end of the story, Sylvia’s attitude has changed, even though she tries to hide it. When she says she isn’t going to let Sugar beat her to the corner, her words carry more meaning than just competition. This time, her anger isn’t about denial, it’s about motivation.
Through this experience, Sylvia has gained a new awareness that she can’t ignore. The trip to the toy store has opened her eyes to the unfairness of the world, and while she hasn’t figured out how to respond, she’s no longer blind to it. Bambara uses Sylvia’s shifting emotions to show that understanding injustice often begins with discomfort. Although Sylvia doesn’t yet have all the answers, she’s beginning to see that awareness is the first step toward change, and that spark of realization will continue to shape her long after the story ends.

[Alekzander · Rating 1 out of 5]

what the hell did I just read?

Edit: Still a story about punk ass kids who think they're tough, and an annoying prissy school teacher that's "Progressive" It's just uncomfortable to read, even though I get it now.

[Justine · Rating 1 out of 5]

“‘Imagine for a minute what kind of a society it is in which some people can spend on a toy what it cost to feed a family of six or seven. What do you think?’”

-Miss Moore, “The Lesson”

——


This short story delivers an admirable theme and important perspective, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.

[Fenley Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to help my son with an English assignment. Thought-provoking short story on income inequality--'haves' versus 'have nots'. Enjoyable read.

[ola! · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm sorry i didn't like it okay??

[Mariyam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story, really cool to delve into the slang and the mischievous, over-mature child from nyc slum pov narration. I read it in class, so I'm going to steal some words from my assignment about why I found Miss Moore's character significant.

Quote from story: "So we heading down the street and she’s boring us silly about what things cost and what our parents make and how much goes for rent and how money ain’t divided up right in this country. And then she gets to the part about we all poor and live in the slums, which I don’t feature."
my analysis: While this is a very irreverent description showing Sylvia doesn’t like to acknowledge these realities, it shows Ms. Moore’s awareness of socioeconomic conditions. I think this also influences Ms. Moore to realize why the children aren’t as receptive to formal education. They likely aren’t receiving the best quality education in New York City public schools that were historically underfunded, under resourced, and segregated by race until the ‘60s. Therefore, Ms. Moore really is passionate about providing these children with education and doing so in an accessible way.
Rather than forcing them to read books or do math sheets only, she takes them out into the real world, to an expensive toy store, and she gently encourages their curiosity and natural reactions. The story culminates with Sylvia’s friend asking questions about the exorbitant price of the toys and wealth inequality, which Miss Moore responds to.
Miss Moore reminds me of the character Miss Flowers from Maya Angelou’s autobiography “I Know Why The Caged Birds Sing.” I believe the Miss Moore archetype is actually a really important characterization in various stories about Black American women in the 20th century. They often represent a woman who is able to the beat the odds against poverty, systematic racism in the education space, and social customs that put them at a disadvantage. Despite this, they are hopeful mentors for youth to help their community."

I will definitely be reading more of Bambara's work, especially from the book this story was in.

[Reader]

Prior to reading this book I thought it was going to be some form of “typical” life lesson book with honestly the stereotypical white main character or person within it. I didn’t know beforehand how much I would be able to relate and understand this story because I read this during my freshman year literature class. Where most of the stories we had read out of this book of short stories my professor assigned us weren’t relatable or simply just didn’t catch my attention fully. This short story following the young black girl and her cousins plus friends really caught my attention especially the dialogue simply because it had so much more character than I was expecting. I think others would be interested in reading this story especially as a black person who grew up in a household that couldn’t afford or have ALL the nice things in life, including myself I remember getting everything that I wanted and one day all of that stopping because life truly sent my parents a reality check without a warning of any sorts. Also young black adults, young, and adults are always looking for more representation within our community. Of course even children but I feel as if this story is a little TOO complex for a child to fully grasp and understand.

[Gianna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, because it makes such a good point in such a short amount of time. I love short stories with a wow factor. Like, "Wow, I never thought of it that way, but that's so true!" Not 5 stars, because it's not the best thing I've ever read or anything.

It's a bit hard to read because of the dialect, but it puts emphasis on the characters. I love/hate when authors do this. Love it because it's true to the characters and setting, and I hate it because it's hard to read and to understand in this day and age.

Overall, it only takes a few minutes to read and has a good lesson in there. If you don't mind the dialect, it's a great story to read for a short break. Even though it was written forever ago, the moral of the story is still true today. I like that.

[Joanna’s Reading Rainbow · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thought provoking short story about the huge wealth gap we face and it’s consequences ... such as living in poverty and lacking access to a proper education.
My favorite line: “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 six or seven... 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?”

[Mikayla Beckman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this short story for my English class and if I'm being honest I really didn't apply myself too deeply to it because I read it right before the discussion (whoops). From what I did gather, this story offered strong themes and deeper meanings surrounding race and economic status which I found very interesting.

[Jacquie · Rating 2 out of 5]

someone recommended this to me~

I get what she was going for and the point but I feel like it could have been executed better


but also that was a silly read bc my white friend took me to fao schwartz for the first time a couple years ago and she was like “YOU HAVENT BEEN HERE?!”…. and it was a very anticlimactic experience lol

[Zoë Westlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good short story. Simple but there’s so much character and life within the few pages this takes up, and the message hurts so much when reading it through a child’s eyes. I definitely need to read more Bambara.

[Charlotte Corrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this short story for one of my modules for mg degree. I loved the incorporation of the setting and the duality of Manhattan to the slums of Bedford-Stuyvesant. It really captures African American struggles in 1930s America and the zeitgeist of the age. I would definitely recommend!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read for my English course.

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting little story about kids expectations of other kids and political issues like systemic racism and income inequality.

[Sheila Bitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny, biting critique of poverty in the US, and deep psychological character study of a streetwise, defensive girl.

[Nikita Suryavanshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and yet thought provoking