Creating the Instituto de Estudios Cubanos in 1969 was not simply an academic endeavour. It was an act of courage. And keeping loyal to its commitment to diversity, tolerance and freedom of thought in the highly polarized field of Cuban studies remained an act of courage for many years. In some ways still is today. Too often verbal violence mixed with terrorists agressions -bombs included- against a group of brave Cuban academics that, not sharing the same perspectives on many issues, decided to agree to disagree with each other. In Havana some members of the group has had their access to their homeland denied by the government. But the IEC has proven to be flexible in their thinking and stubborned in their core values. Freedom of thought, research and expression are not negotiable for its members. In 2009 the IEC has come of age. Forty years at the service of a united and plural Cuban academia against all odds is cause for celebration.