Wilson v. Gaines was a United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of racial discrimination in higher education. The case involved Lloyd Gaines, an African American man who was denied admission to the University of Missouri Law School due to its policy of racial segregation. Gaines sued the university, arguing that the policy violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gaines, holding that the university's policy of racial segregation was unconstitutional. The Court held that the state had a duty to provide equal educational opportunities to all citizens, regardless of race. The Court also held that the state could not deny admission to a qualified student on the basis of race. The decision in Wilson v. Gaines was a landmark ruling in the fight for racial equality in higher education. It established the principle that states must provide equal educational opportunities to all citizens, regardless of race. The decision also set a precedent for future cases involving racial discrimination in higher education.

In Wilson v. Gaines, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a state law that excluded African Americans from attending a public university violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The majority opinion held that it did not violate this clause because there were other options available for African American students to pursue higher education in Missouri and thus no discrimination had occurred. However, Justice Harlan dissented from this decision arguing that while separate educational facilities may be equal in quality, they are inherently unequal as they deny African Americans access to certain opportunities due solely to their race. He argued further that such segregation should not be allowed under any circumstances and is therefore unconstitutional according to the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law regardless of race or color.