'But ain't no body gonna beat me at Nothing' is an ironic choice of words coming from a young, lower-class African-American girl growing up in the brutal streets of New York City. In the short story "The Lesson" Toni Cade Bambara illustrates the lack of opportunities for African American women after the Civil War. Being a woman of color limited one's socioeconomic class and suppressed the importance of self-motivation in one's life. Bambara grew up in two of New York's poorest neighborhoods, Harlem and Bedford. The journeys, tribulations and moments of uncertainty he had to face are illustrated in this short story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayBambara transposes these difficulties into his personal life into a narrative written in third-person limited, then switches to third-person omniscient, an intriguing point of view not typically chosen by literary writers. Sylvia, the protagonist of this story, must decide whether to let her socioeconomic status limit her or push herself to reach places she never thought possible. The motivation behind this tale is to provide readers with an awareness of the different social classes that determine cultural decisions within communities. Although Sylvia was born into poverty, this did not limit her ability to transform her life into something meaningful. Sylvia's narrow-minded trait limits her abilities in interpersonal skills, causing her to avoid lessons that would benefit her personally. Sylvia's animosity towards her antagonist, Mrs. Moore, undermines the impact she would have on Sylvia's life towards the end of the story. From the beginning, you can feel the annoyance Sylvia feels towards Mrs. Moore's common but educational ramblings. For example, Silvia says, “He's boring us silly about how much things cost…how money isn't divided well in this country, he gets to the part where we're all poor and living in slums, which I don't talk about.” And I'm ready to talk about this.' While some might think of Sylvia as an ignorant child growing up in the slums, doomed from the day she was born, I think of her as a scared young woman who is afraid to face reality or step out of her comfort zones. Bambara wants to highlight the lack of knowledge and visibility that minorities had after the end of the civil war, conveying that living in the "slums" and being poor was ordinary, normal and acceptable. This marks the beginning of the conflict. Although Bambara states it implicitly, Mrs. Moore is Sylva's gateway to knowledge. Ms. Moore's persistence is teaching about the relative prices of toys in "slums" versus those displayed in wealthier neighborhoods ultimately cracks the surface. of Sylvia's thick skin. The vivid images inside the FAO Schwarz store create a moment of suspense and longing as Sylvia looks through the glass of the store. However, as she ponders the price of expensive toys, she comes to understand that these can only be purchased by the rich, which she clearly is not. The reality of life's distorted economic privileges takes effect and begins to shake Sylvia's unbreakable spirit. This is where the conflict begins. Sylvia argues, "But I feel a strange shame. But what do I have to be ashamed of? I have as much right to come in as anyone else. But for some reason I can't get hold of the door." Even though Sylvia hates the concept behind a college education, he is beginning to realize and understand that he has the power to change the circumstances in which he currently lives..