Carter G. Woodson stated, “If you can control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his action. When you determine what a man shall think you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do. If you make a man feel that he is inferior, you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status, for he will seek it himself. If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told; and if there is no back door, his very nature will demand one.” (Woodson) This essay will analyze the significant importance of the main idea in regards to the short story “The Lesson” written by Toni Cade Bambara. There are many ways that the main idea of “The Lesson” could be …show more content…
Nurture has been a cornerstone in scientific research and a paradigm throughout history. Nature is a discretional attribute as to what biological data have formed you, opposed to Nurture which is the behavioral characteristics that you learn and exhibit. Provided a fundamental formula of Willie Lynch’s ideology, plus the process of enculturation, positive nature vs. nurture, we would result in the limited education to our African American children because of the environmental restrictions placed on the black community ghetto. As stated before a ghetto is “A section of a city, especially a thickly populated slum area, inhabited predominantly by members of an ethnic or other minority group, often as a result of social or economic restrictions, pressures, or hardships.” (Dictionary) In “The Lesson”, one of the students asked if they could steal some of the items in the toy store. Others said, “she’s boring us silly about what things cost and what our parents make and how much goes for rent.” (Bambara) To fathom the thoughts of being able to buy what they want, when they wanted it, and wherever they decided to purchase is incomprehensible. Miss Moore is simply opening their eyes to the unknown but the achievable. Through hard work and determination, the children would be exposed to a different …show more content…
There are many ways that the main idea of “The Lesson” could be interpreted, but that is the beautiful entity of literature, there are extensive facets to ponder and discover. The main idea analyzed is the disadvantages to the African American children’s educational system through disadvantages such as ancestral history, the product of one’s environment, as well as, a limited educational system. The limited resources and education, coupled with the ancestral disadvantages presented before the African-American community undermines our potential and growth. We analyzed historical data to create the catalyst of this cycle, as well as, scientific data that sustains the claims of the African-American community and its shortcomings. “She can run if she want to and even run faster. But ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin.”