The Lesson

by

Toni Cade Bambara

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Lesson makes teaching easy.

The Lesson Characters

Sylvia

The protagonist and narrator of the story, Sylvia, is a young Black girl who lives in Harlem with her cousin Sugar and the rest of her family. Their extended family moved to New York City… read analysis of Sylvia

Miss Moore

Miss Moore is the self-appointed teacher of the kids in her Harlem neighborhood, as her college education makes her feel that it is her responsibility to teach them about the world. However, she doesn’t fit… read analysis of Miss Moore

Sugar

Sugar is Sylvia’s friend and cousin who, like Sylvia, lives in Harlem with their extended family. While Sugar and Sylvia at first seem to be on the same page about everything, including their resentment… read analysis of Sugar

Mercedes

Mercedes is one of the children from the Harlem neighborhood who Miss Moore decides to take under her wing. Mercedes’s comments throughout the story imply that she comes from a somewhat wealthier family than the… read analysis of Mercedes

Flyboy

Flyboy is one of the kids in Miss Moore’s group. He is poor like the other children and claims that he’s homeless, but Sylvia implies that he only says this to make people feel… read analysis of Flyboy
Get the entire The Lesson LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Lesson PDF

Big Butt

Big Butt is one of the kids in Miss Moore’s group; he’s related to Junebug. He wants to buy an expensive microscope he sees in the window of FAO Schwarz, but because his… read analysis of Big Butt
Minor Characters
Rosie Giraffe
Rosie Giraffe is one of the kids taught by Miss Moore. Rosie is outspoken in the group, and she mocks Mercedes and the wealthy patrons of FAO Schwarz for their money.
Junebug
Junebug is one of the kids in Miss Moore’s group. She is related to Big Butt.
Q.T.
Q.T. is one of the kids in Miss Moore’s group. He is smaller than the rest of the kids.