The short story “The Lesson’ By author and advocate for African American and women’s rights, Toni Cade Bambara included nine characters. Eight of which are adolescents and one adult. The emphasis of this story in my eyes were put on Sylvia and Miss Moore, two other supporting characters are Sugar and Mercedes. Sylvia had a rotten and bitter attitude towards most things, especially anything that Miss Moore had to say or do. Sylvia wanted to control everything around her, she despised the idea of not being in charge. I think it made her feel belittled and not much of anything other than a young black girl that felt poor and helpless, she needed her ego to drive her to feel of importance, apart of her being headstrong made her a good leader, but not always a good student. Sugar was her right hand girl, they were “the only ones just right.” Sugar followed behind Sylvia most of the time. Mercedes was a little different from all the other characters, she had more than what they had to settle with and her outlook on the division between her African American community and the White American community differed. Miss Moore was an educated black woman, a neighbor that felt responsible for the children in her neighborhoods education. Although, the parents talked poorly of Miss Moore at times, they knew what she could do for their children’s futures and success.
Miss Moore took all the children to a toy store, unfortunately it was not the children had hoped. It was a lesson, not a shopping spree. Mercedes thought highly of the rich and white, she wanted to reach that level of success. What she did not realize is that there was a separation of her community and the other communities, that what she wanted in correlation of the others, the others did not look at her kind as their equal. Along this dreading toy store trip, Sylvia and Sugar began to feel inferior. Sugar explored that store, taking a detour from what Sylvia wanted for once. Sugar touched the expensive boat, Sylvia felt jealousy and anger because of that. At the end of the toy store trip, Miss Moore wanted some feedback on what everyone has learned from this. Sugar spoke up proudly and thoughtfully as she expressed the inequity of the economy.
Sylvia tried to stop Sugar from giving Miss Moore any satisfaction in her lesson, that she was stepping all over Sugars feet, but Sugar did not let that stop her. Although, Sylvia tried to keep her “cool” act going on, she did learn and comprehend the lesson, but maybe she thought she could never get to that level of economy, that rank of success to spend money without almost any care, maybe she was scared.
2 thoughts on “Khadijah Munajj Discussion 4”
I really liked the way you described the characters especially Sylvia I did not think the idea of her not being in charge would have her feel so belittled. Though after reading your post I am surprised I did not notice that myself. I also love the idea that the trip was a lesson the entire time and I hope that Sylvia can forgive Sugar for her “Treachery” as Sugar really did take to heart the lesson that Miss Moore was trying to teach them all. I do agree that she was a bit scared especially since after Sugar took the lesson to heart she finally stood up to Sylvia and acted for herself rather than constantly being a follower. I believe that bruised Sylvia’s ego and she did not know how to handle as she always craves to be in control.
Hi, Khadijah!
I truly agree that Sylvia did have an egotistical attitude behind her bitterness, she seemed threatened about not belonging at the Toy Store. She knew that once she admitted into these feelings, she would have no choice but to show a side of herself she wasn’t ready to live in.