In this article, Victoria-Maria MacDonald, John M. Botti, and Lisa Hoffman Clark trace the evolution of higher educational opportunities for Latinos in the United States from the Higher Education Act of 1965 to the designation of Title V in the Act's 1998 reauthorization. The authors argue that this evolution moved through stages, including establishing visibility and legitimacy, self-determination, self-scrutiny, emulation, and, finally, autonomy. The journey toward improving higher educational opportunities for Latinos is juxtaposed with the journey experienced by African Americans in the United States. Because of the enormous historical, social, and political differences between the two groups, the models utilized by and for Blacks were viewed as inadequate for serving Latino needs in higher education. However, the model established by Historically Black Colleges and Universities inspired Latino educators to found Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The authors conclude their article by discussing contemporary issues surrounding HSIs and looking toward the future of Latino higher education. (Contains 5 notes.)