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Biography · Politics

Royal L. Bolling

1920–2002

United States

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Biography

Royal Lee Bolling (June 19, 1920 – July 16, 2002) was a Massachusetts politician and head of a prominent African-American political family. While serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1965, he sponsored the state's Racial Imbalance Act, which led to the desegregation of Boston's public schools. Bolling was a decorated World War II veteran, earning a Silver Star as a member of the segregated "Buffalo Soldiers" 92nd infantry division.

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Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

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