The demographic make-up of Roxbury City was drastically changed in the mid-20th century. White flight and the blockbusting of real estate groups led to the gradual conversion of Roxbury into a predominantly Black neighborhood. Nevertheless, by the 1970s, whites still outnumbered African Americans by more than three to one. This change reflects the city's increasing diversity and socioeconomic dynamism.
During the early 19th century, the neighborhood was predominantly populated by Irish, and the presence of the Dominicans was considerable. Several German-operated businesses sprang up along Stony Brook, and many Dominicans made Roxbury their home. After Roxbury was annexed by Boston in 1868, the community became more diverse. Caribbean immigrants were particularly prominent, and Cape Verdeans, who were virtually invisible in the neighborhood in 2000, grew to become second only to Dominicans. A religious center established by the Dominicans, Canaan Defensores de la Fe, a Puerto Rican Pentecostal church, provided Spanish language instruction for the community starting in 1976.
While blacks and Latinos have long been underrepresented in elected office in Roxbury, the emergence of Black female representatives in the Boston City Council has changed the demographics of the district. In the past, Black residents had virtually no representation in government, but in the current Boston-area city council, African American women are making their voices heard in the state legislature. With Roxbury, the city has a majority of Black residents and is considered the only Black minority district in the state.