Growing up in the late 1960s and 1970s, the author learned about inequality and slavery, about how the poor were treated, and about the role played by skin color in dividing the haves from the have-nots. She also learned about separate and unequal schools and how privileged whites received a better education. From the very beginning, the United States has not lived up to the ideals of freedom, liberty, and social justice. Today, while some progress has been made, Americans still have a long way to go. Their schools are failing their children; in many of their major cities, black and Latino children are dropping out at the rate of 50 percent and higher. There remains a persistent gap between the college graduation rates for black and Latino students and the rates for white students. The percentage of college faculty and administrators of color remains small. The times have changed, and diversity in the country has become increasingly complex. Diversity is no longer black and white. It is not only about the traditional census groups--black, white, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian. Diversity is multifaceted and intersecting, and there are complexities within groups as well. An increasing number of individuals now classify themselves as multiracial. In this article, the author talks about the role college presidents must play in speaking up about injustices and being willing to take controversial stands.