The Lesson

Toni Cade Bambara's "The Lesson" is about a group of inner city, minority children who are led on a trip to FAO Schwartz by a woman, active in the community. The feeling of apprehention that the children experience as they enter the store points to the obvious class differences in American society. And though this lesson in social equality (or inequality) is designed to bring awareness to the children, the reader can't help but feel the anger that it generates in Sylvia. In the end it only reinforces her ghetto mentality, she is most concerned with the change she stole from Miss Moore.
I have a very special connection to this story. My sister and I were brought to the US by our parents when we were children. And even though we were very very poor for the first couple of years, our parents did their best to show us the world around us. I remember that feeling of apprehention on my first trip to FAO Schwartz. I remeber the tears in mother's eyes because my 5 year old sister did not even ask if she could have a toy, she knew we couldn't afford it. I was also surprised on my last trip there a few years ago to find out that the prices in that store are pretty reasonable, I even bought something for my nephew.
This whole "we need to redivide the pie" business falls on deaf ears with me because there in this country, more so then any other country in the world each of us has the ability to make something of themselves without breaking the system. And even though some have better odds then others, it does not excuse that ghetto attitude (like Sylvia's) "If I can't buy it then I'll steal it". I think the lesson here should be - You want it? Work for it!