The New Bostonians: How Immigrants Revitalized Boston

A new report by the Boston Redevelopment Authority says over 25 percent of Bostonians are now foreign-born, an increase of nearly 20 percent since 2000. The Dominican Republic has now passed China as the top country of origin for Boston's foreign-born at 13 percent.

According to the BRA, these Bostonians are crucial to Boston's growth, contributing dollars and jobs to the city.

But that's been the case for decades, according to Marilynn Johnson, history professor at Boston College and author of "The New Bostonians: How Immigrants Have Transformed The Metro Area Since the 1960s." In her book, she explains how the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and the immigrants who followed, effectively shaped Boston's current economy and culture.

As she writes, "Although often told as a story of corporate restructuring, technological innovation and elite-led gentrification, Boston's metropolitan transformation required a far broader cast of characters."

Marilynn Johnson, history professor at Boston College and author of "The New Bostonians: How Immigrants Have Transformed The Metro Area Since the 1960s."

WBUR: Report: Boston’s Foreign-Born Population Has Increased 19 Percent Since 2000