Community colleges were founded on the principles of social justice. This foundation still permeates the mission and core values of community colleges across the country. Certainly one of the most unique and compelling social-justice elements of community colleges has been the emphasis on open access to higher education. This open-door philosophy helped the colleges become known as the "people's colleges." From the start, community colleges provided educational access to the masses, democratizing higher education and breaking the classism of higher education, which had been largely reserved for the wealthy elite. This was an epic social-justice change in the nation's history. This article discusses community colleges and how their role in social justice by having their door open to all who are willing and able to attend.