Due to the value of personal rights and freedoms, along with the associated questions and continuing problems, the issue of "civil rights" continues to be relevant in the twenty-first century. In the United States, the civil rights of disenfranchised people are adversely affected by various social, regional, and federal policies. Historically speaking,the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution provided much needed legal relief, as it defined citizenship and its benefits through birth or naturalization. While the 14th Amendment provided legal relief, in the mid­twentieth century, the status quo of a particular mid-­western state and associated university had to be formally challenged for meaningful change to occur, for the benefit of non-white citizens. This paper presents two important cases that helped reshape the admission policies of the University of Missouri. Lloyd Gaines and Lucille Bluford both applied to this university in 1936 and 1939, respectively. Lloyd Gaines successfully appealed his case to the United States Supreme Court. Lucille Bluford appealed her case, but the legal process stalled as the university suspended its journalism program during the Second World War. Following these and other cases, admission policies changed from the prevailing "separate but equal," to admission for scholastically qualified applicants. This paper's historical analysis is relevant since civil rights discourse persists at United States universities today and American society's disenfranchised groups continue to seek educational opportunities.