Lucy Parsons Center

Book store · Jamaica Plain

Lucy Parsons Center

Book store · Jamaica Plain

1

358 Centre St A, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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Lucy Parsons Center by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lucy_Par...
Lucy Parsons Center by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lucy_Par...
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null
Lucy Parsons Center by null

Highlights

Volunteer-run bookstore & community center with progressive books  

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358 Centre St A, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Get directions

lucyparsonscenter.org

$

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358 Centre St A, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Get directions

+1 617 522 6098
lucyparsonscenter.org
lpcenter
𝕏
@LucyParsonsCent

$

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Aug 9, 2025

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@atlasobscura

Travel to As Many of These Offbeat Places As You Can in 2018

"Originally founded in 1969 as the “Red Book”, this is one establishment that is not afraid to proclaim its political stance. Originally Maoist, today it is predominantly anarchist and entirely volunteer driven, donning the slogan “no bosses, no pay”. In addition to their well-stocked shelves of literature covering every wing of the progressive movement, they provide a wide variety of resources including a free meeting space for local activist groups, frequent cultural and educational events, book signings, and weekly Radical Movie Nights on Wednesdays at 7PM." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

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View Postcard for Lucy Parsons Center

ollie b

Google
second time in the lucy parsons center and it was great yet again :) love their variety of books + resources and the general vibes of the space!

rhea bruen

Google
very relevant bookstore with kind, helpful staff. so many great titles! i wish i could buy every single one. i'd love to go to one of their movie screenings too.

Matthew Rushford

Google
Amazing place to read or for events but the hours are unreasonable and books are expensive (check instagram for hours)

Ross Michaud

Google
comfy store with lots of great literature. some books can be expensive but that's just the way she goes these days. and there's lots of cheap options that are still high quality. staff tend to be nice

E Zimmerman

Google
This is such a cozy place; very comfortable and the person working at the time was really kind and helpful (even recommended a nice spot for dinner). We talked and bonded over shared experiences as I had been a volunteer at a similar space for a time. If I didn't live a thousand miles away I would imagine I would spend many of my days here. The selection here is pretty good and much better organized than some other radical bookstores. I mean, I'm not a strict platformist or anything, but it is nice to not have to look at 1,000 books to find the 3 you want. Wow, look at me ramble... Anyhow, if you can go here, you should.

Emerson D

Google
The only thing leftist about this place are the books they sell. One of the owners is a trust fund kid, who couldn't care less about the poor in Boston or black and brown people. There are not different from the countless businesses in Boston who have gentrified the area. These suburban edge lords were recently attempting to incite violence against the police at a block party in Jamaica Plain and they sell t-shirt depicting cop cars being blown up. The staff there are mostly white, middle class yuppies who have no nothing for the JP Latino community. The owner is rich, but is still asking average visitors to help pay for a 30k project to fix the ceiling of their new digs. They also have been harassing the employees of SEED in JP for not caring about the community and just pretending to be "woke". Well Lucy Parson might just be describing themselves and they need a reality check.

Ashley C

Google
A great bookstore with tons of books you can't find anywhere else! They have a great selection of progressive and radical books and have them organized very well. I also enjoyed looking at their Zine section.

Shahbaz Soofi

Google
Selection of mostly academic books & non-fiction & of course of the rad variety. Would have been nice to have gotten something by Bookchin or Freire there but didn't find their writing there.
google avatar

Alexandra A.

Yelp
" Love their selection of books plus vibe " Love this big selection of books , I am in too . They have a whole vibe ; I love . I wish I could buy every book in here ; lol. The value for your money is incredible. The service is a whole vibe ; you'll love it .
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Leighann F.

Yelp
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.
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Bex A.

Yelp
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.
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Heather P.

Yelp
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.
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John W.

Yelp
"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.
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Kris L.

Yelp
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.
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Lindsey J.

Yelp
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.

Karen H.

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

Pavel B.

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

Yelp
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.
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Corry B.

Yelp
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.
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Daisy K.

Yelp
i haven't visited in a while but i know that the rockin radical film nights are still happening - wednesdays - so go :) hurrah for having "dragon ladies: asian american feminists breathe fire" in stock. get on their listserve...much to know!