After the year 2000 one-third of the American population will be members of minority groups; neglecting minorities will have disastrous effects on the nation. The United States has made some progress in improving the lives of minorities, but America is presently moving backward--not forward--in its efforts to achieve the full participation of minority citizens in the life and prosperity of the nation. Statistics on American minorities are provided. Past federal programs that have benefited minorities are reviewed. A national commitment must be made toward the goal of enabling America's minorities to attain a quality of life as high as that of the white majority. The following strategies for success are identified: (1) institutions of higher learning should strengthen their efforts to increase minority recruitment, retention, and graduation; (2) national leaders should identify and implement policies to stimulate economic growth and restore national solvency; (3) elected officials should lead efforts to assure minority advancement; (4) private and voluntary organizations should initiate new, and expand existing, programs designed to increase minority participation and achievement; (5) each major sector of our society should contribute to a new vision of affirmative action around which a broad national consensus can be formed; (6) minority public officials, institutions, and voluntary organizations should expand their leadership roles; and (7) education leaders should improve coordination and cooperation among all levels and systems. Data are illustrated on eight figures, and 40 bibliographic notes are included. (BJV)