If I were to write an essay about “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, I would entitle it “Role Model” or “It Takes a Village.” In the essay, I would focus on Ms. Moore’s unwavering dedication to expanding the minds of neighborhood kids by introducing them to experiences beyond their immediate environment, such as upscale toy stores like FAO Schwarz, demonstrating her belief in the transformative power of knowledge and exposure. Ms. Moore’s emphasis on education and critical thinking is evident in her interactions with the children, particularly in her conversations with Sylvia. When Sylvia questions the lesson’s relevance to their lives, Ms. Moore encourages her to engage with the realities of social and economic inequality critically, challenging the children to think beyond their immediate circumstances. She motivates them to question, analyze, and seek understanding, nurturing a sense of agency and empowerment. Ms. Moore’s influence cultivates curiosity and critical awareness, establishing her as a positive role model committed to the children’s development.
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2 thoughts on “Dominique Robinson Discussion 3”
Dominique, I love the “It Takes a Village” title. However, your language here is quite general and abstract. Vague, generic phrasing like “the transformative power of knowledge and exposure” or “. . . nurturing a sense of agency and empowerment” don’t really say anything about a story unless they are illustrated with specific scenes or dialogue from the text. Instead, you might give specific examples of how your very good title applies to this story.
I like the title suggestions you came up with, as they put the view of the story in a different light than what is obvious when reading the story. It’s clear Ms. Moore was teaching the children and trying to open up their minds to see the world differently, but when you change the perspective from helping the less fortunate to trying to build up her neighborhood’s children to see beyond what they already know, especially Sylvia since she seems to be the most stubborn.