Consider paragrpahs 44-50: what ideas about equality and inequality are exposed in Bambara's "The Lesson?—and will the kids remember Miss Moore's...

In Toni Cade Bambara's short story, "The Lesson," it seems
the section you are referring to includes the children's visit to F.A.O. Schwarz, which
is allegedly a "toy" store. While there may be toys, I always feel
that some of these toys are for very well-to-do adults' children,
but also some are for the well-to-do adults as
well.

Two toys are discussed: the sailboat which costs
almost twelve hundred dollars, and a thirty-five dollar mechanical
clown.

It is, of course, Miss Moore's intention to point
out the inequality represented in this toy store that sells things that none of
these children could afford. Sylvia puts everything into its proper
perspective, which is part of "the lesson," though she doesn't see it right away. She
imagines asking her mother for the clown toy:

readability="7">

"You wanna who that costs what?" she'd say,
cocking her head to the side to get a better view of the hole in my
head.

Sylvia reviews the
value of thirty-five dollars in her neighborhood, in
her world. Junior and Gretchen could buy their son a set of bunk
beds; it would cover the cost of the whole family visiting the country to see
Grand-daddy Nelson; and, it could pay the rent, among other things.
Sylvia's mom would ask:

readability="6">

Who are these people that spend that much for
performing clowns and $1000 for toy sailboats? What kinda work they do and how they live
and how come we ain't in on
it?

Miss Moore has brought
the children to see how the "better half" lives. It's not enough to realize that there
is a better half, but Miss Moore wants the chidren to want to
be successful like those people—not to be hindered, living their
lives in the inner-city—as their parents are doing: working hard, never getting ahead,
and never having the same opportunities as those around them. And
really, it's not about the money. It about quality of life—and
leaving an unmotivated mindset behind to find it.

readability="7">

Where we are is who we are, Miss Moore always
pointin out. But it don't necessarily have to be that
way...

Sylvia's parents know
about the inequality they and their kids face, but they can't change their children's
future because they have no idea how—they don't have the finances or social support to
make life different for their kids. Historically, it has been too soon since the Civil
Rights Amendment of 1964 was passed (this story written in 1972) to have seen any
real changes—things have not greatly improved for blacks in this
country. Programs are not in place to train or motivate young people. However, they
do have Miss Moore, and as much as the kids resent her,
she is their single-handed
advocate. She understands what needs to be done. It is for this
reason that she takes the kids out on these excursions.

And
while Sugar seems to "get it" for a moment (while Sylvia stands on her foot to shut her
up), she is soon too distracted by the thought of ice cream soda and layer cake to stay
focused; but as much as Sylvia tries to hide her growing realization from Miss Moore,
we know something is changing inside her as Miss Moore speaks to
them:

And
somethin weird is goin on, I can feel it in my chest. "Anybody else learn anything
today?" lookin dead at me. I walk
away...

As they leave Miss
Moore, still in possession of four dollars left from the cab ride, Sylvia has to ponder
what she has learned, but we know she is not going to sit quietly
while life pushes her around— not without pushing
back:

...ain't
nobody gonna beat me at
nuthin.

Sylvia
has learned the lesson!