Lucy Parsons Center

I've lived near this place for 4 years and I love it. It's a great little bookstore for social-justice-minded folks. I like to support their collective and shop local. The volunteer staff is always super friendly.

This organization/bookstore functions as a community center of sorts staffed by volunteers, hosting book signings, movie nights, activist meetings and DIY events. I like this location as much as their old location on Columbus Ave in the South End. Whether you are looking for books on environmental issues, feminism, or other left wing progressive topic, they've got you covered. Beyond new and used books (children's books and Spanish language books as well), they also have a good selection of magazines, posters, cards, stickers, and pins.

I was lured to the Lucy Parsons Center for Stencil Nation book tour with Russel Howze and was immediately seduced by the lone green leather couch at te back of the store, the multitude of 'gently used', thought-provoking books, the worn carpet and the bad ass lineup of FREE events!

But soon after my first visit, I realized there was so much more! Not your typical book stores with not your typical books, this collectively run shop is filled with a whole bunch of material (old, new and totally progressive) that would surely fire up some folks of conservative backgrounds.

Their meeting space is free to local activist groups for events and gatherings, they benefit greatly from community donations and are a testament to the concepts of empowerment, education and the community's need for discussing and bringing ideas to light.

"More dangerous than a thousand rioters." That's how the Chicago police described activist Lucy Parsons in the 1920s. The same could be said about this independent bookstore, which sports the largest selection of progressive literature in the city. They occasionally feature lectures and live music in their store. And every Wednesday is 'radical film night.'

This is one of the coolest bookstores in Boston, and it is at least worth a visit.

All-volunteer bookstore run by friendly people. Great selection of books. Small food pantry inside, too.

Really nasty inside. Place was a dump, and their dewey decimal system was way off. I couldn't believe the smell either.

I was on the quest for slingshot organizers when I discovered this book store. I arrived during movie night so it was pretty dim and I was trying to keep as quiet as possible as to not disrupt the attention of others.
They had a great selection of book ,(some of which I am already familiar with and others that I need to go back to get)
They are non profit in the true sense but do accept donations to help pay for rent and stuff.
I always find it refreshing when I see establishments like this nestled between the starbuck's and the gap's. I just hope this one manages to stick around. They always seem to disappear so quickly.

When I happened upon The Lucy Parsons Center in Boston, I was relieved. Back in New York City I used to visit a similar store called Bluestockings and I missed it a lot.

The Lucy Parsons center has a great selection of radical and leftists books, from cultural history to DIY crafts. When I went in to browse not many people were around, but I suppose the torrential rain outside must have made this the case. Besides your standard book fair, they also have the best selection of magazines I've found so far in Boston. After signing up for their email newsletter, I'm looking forward to checking out some of the events they host in their South End store front.

Great bookstore, great reputation, great selection, great contribution to the country, the poor, the working people, democracy and freedom. Nice events and info. Avoid any CrimethInc/Illegalist/dumpster diver/Zerzan garbage and read about real pro-organization anarchist, environmentalist, punk, cowboy (the Chinese, black, native American and Mexican ones), and anti-racist punk and skinhead history.

Radical. Get yer Noam Chomsky here. Awesome selection of "other" books from homegrown SouthEnd Press, couches to sit on and talk anarchist politics on, the most interesting volunteer staff in Boston.