RELENTLESS

A Puerto Rican political strategist and philanthropist describes his life devoted to public service.

Miranda, father of Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel, describes growing up in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, in a middle-class, high-achieving family. The author was thinking about attending law school in San Juan when he was recruited by Bernie Kalinkowitz, chair of the psychology department at NYU, to pursue a doctorate. Arriving in New York City at age 19, Miranda would soon be divorced from his childhood sweetheart and leave the field of psychology for work in the arenas of social reform and political activism. He realized that statehood for his country was not the answer, but rather an economic solution to poverty. Miranda soon married another student, Luz, who had a small child, and together they had Lin-Manuel in 1980. They bought a house in Inwood, Manhattan, which became the setting for his son’s first musical theater effort, In the Heights. After helping to create the Amber Charter School for dual-language speakers, “the first Latino-led community charter school in New York,” Miranda moved to City Hall, as Mayor Ed Koch’s special adviser for Hispanic affairs, in 1987. The author’s ability to garner the Hispanic political bloc attracted the attention of Guillermo Linares, who was elected to city council in 1992; Fernando Ferrer, “the most prominent Latino official in New York City,” who just missed being elected as the first Latino mayor when 9/11 happened; and the Senate campaigns for Chuck Schumer (“a big character and knowledgeable about everything”) and Hillary Clinton (“high profile and untested”). The author’s tone is charming and personable as he espouses his devotion to Julie Andrews and Debbie Reynolds and authoritative when speaking of the possibilities of Latine political power. His son provides the foreword.

An engaging life story and clear picture of some of the mechanics of politics.