The Lesson, by Toni Cade Bambara, is a short story that takes place in the inner city of New York. The story is set in the 1960s, a time of great social and political change in the United States.
The main character of the story is a young girl named Sylvia, who is about eight years old. Sylvia is a curious and intelligent child, but she is also rebellious and resistant to authority. She lives in a poor neighborhood with her family and friends, who are all struggling to make ends meet.
The setting of the story plays a significant role in shaping the characters and the events that take place. The inner city is depicted as a place of poverty, crime, and racial segregation. Sylvia and her friends are constantly reminded of their disadvantaged status, as they see the wealth and privilege of the white, upper-class residents of the city.
The story begins with Sylvia and her friends playing in the park, where they encounter a wealthy, white woman named Miss Moore. Miss Moore is a college-educated, African American woman who has come to the inner city to teach the children about the world beyond their neighborhood.
Miss Moore takes Sylvia and her friends on a field trip to a toy store in a wealthy part of town. The trip is meant to be a lesson in social inequality, as Miss Moore shows the children the expensive toys and clothes that they can't afford. The experience is eye-opening for Sylvia and her friends, who are shocked by the vast difference in wealth between their neighborhood and the wealthy part of town.
Throughout the story, Miss Moore serves as a mentor and role model for Sylvia and her friends. She teaches them about history, politics, and social justice, and encourages them to think critically about the world around them.
In the end, Sylvia and her friends return home from the field trip with a newfound sense of awareness and determination. The lesson that Miss Moore has taught them has changed their perspective on their place in the world, and they are motivated to work towards a better future for themselves and their community.
Overall, the setting of The Lesson is crucial to the themes and events of the story. It reflects the social and economic realities of the inner city in the 1960s, and serves as a backdrop for the characters' journey towards enlightenment and empowerment.
