Mentors Make the Difference: the Lesson Toni Cade Bambara

627 Words3 Pages
The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara is a short tale of the ignorance of impoverished children living in the tale. Bambara show through a simple field trip how their eyes can be opened and lives can be changed. No matter how strong-willed or hard-headed one might be this lesson can be learned. One strong mentor can help people see that there is a better life to be had. “Back in the days when everyone was old and stupid or young and foolish and me and Sugar were the only ones just right”, (Bambara p. 456) the opening line shows us Sylvia’s mind set; she is a stubborn, self centered, feisty young lady. She (Sylvia) believes at her age that she knows everything and she can take on the world. She does not understand at this point the hardships that surround her, nor does she care. Life is just fine to her and everyone is just as they should be. When the mentor, Miss Moore, enters the picture, Sylvia is unimpressed to say the least. “This lady moved on our block with nappy hair and proper speech and no makeup” (Bambara p. 456) the opening line continues, “and we kinda hated her...” (Bambara p. 456) Sylvia bluntly states and continues to belittle Miss Moore. Sylvia is upset that this woman with proper speech, obviously an education, has come into her home. Miss Moore plans things for these children to do, things that bore Sylvia. The assumption is that these activities are meant to teach the children to better themselves, but Sylvia already thinks she is perfect. One day Miss Moore plans a trip to F.A.O. Schwartz for the children. While there the kids are in awe of the items in the store. Trinkets that they have to make, like sailboats, are available to buy ready made off the shelf at exorbitant prices. Sylvia starts to understand in this setting that maybe there is more out there. She finds a clown toy, she falls in love with it, that does tricks for 35 dollars.

More about Mentors Make the Difference: the Lesson Toni Cade Bambara

Open Document