Boston, early 1970s. Amidst the yellow school buses being shaken and the Black children being stoned by angry white mobs in early 1970s Boston, we meet a white boy whose journey includes a mother struggling with her sanity and a father who meets his son's moments of immense pain and tentative pride with callousness. He seeks belonging in Boston's Black community, where he is baptized "Goatbeard" at a police stop. Carrying his new identity, he strives to fit in amongst his running buddies, the ladies at the "blue light"parties, playing dominoes in the kitchen, and amongst his young students' families. Along the way he develops a deep understanding of Boston's inequitable educational system, the "Life" on the streets, the strong arm of the racist authority system, and finally the warmth of found family.