Turmoil and Transition in Boston: A Political Memoir from the Busing Era.

The article reviews three works focused on racial and political dynamics in Boston and the Boston Marathon bombing. It first discusses a biography of Baldwin, a Black educator and activist, highlighting her complex navigation of race, identity, and social expectations in New England, emphasizing her contributions to racial equality beyond her educational role. The second review covers Lawrence S. DiCara’s political memoir, which provides an insider’s perspective on Boston’s busing crisis during the 1970s, illustrating the challenges of liberal politics amid racial tensions and demographic shifts, though it is critiqued for limited engagement with Black perspectives and race analysis. The final review summarizes "Long Mile Home," an account of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, portraying the event’s immediate impact and the community’s compassionate response, situating the marathon as a historic and culturally significant event in Boston.