For much of the 20th century, Boston was known for its high-stakes politics, class warfare, tight ethnic enclaves and racial divisiveness. In the 1970s, in response to the searing experience on all sides of school desegregation and the devastating effects of racial violence, something began to change. Three decades of intense community development in Boston’s neighborhoods, a shift to New Economy jobs, a wave of immigrants from all corners of the world and new civic and political leadership merged in the 1990s to create a more harmonious and hopeful city.

OVERVIEW

Boston entered the 21st century with a new spirit, and the 2000 US Census reflected a changed city. Boston today is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in the nation by any number of measures.

More than 100 ethnicities are represented in Boston’s neighborhoods and 140 languages are spoken in Boston’s homes. Boston is more than 50% people of color overall. Almost 75% of its teenagers are