Bob Hicks (activist) facts for kids

Robert Hicks (February 20, 1929 – April 13, 2010) was a brave leader in Bogalusa, Louisiana. He played a big part in the Civil Rights Movement. His actions helped end unfair rules that separated people based on race. These rules, called Jim Crow laws, affected schools, jobs, homes, and hospitals.

Hicks is famous for helping start the Bogalusa chapter of the Deacons for Defense and Justice. This group was made of African-American men who protected their community. He led daily protests in Bogalusa. He also served as a leader in the Bogalusa Civic and Voters League. Hicks was involved in many important lawsuits that helped change laws across the country.

Robert Hicks: A Champion for Civil Rights

Early Life and Family

Robert Hicks was born on February 20, 1929. He grew up in Pachuta, Mississippi. Later, his family moved to Bogalusa, Louisiana. In 1947, he finished high school at Central Memorial High. This school was only for Black students at the time. He was a great football player there.

After school, he married Valeira Payton. She strongly supported the fight for civil rights. Valeira wanted to be a nurse. She traveled far every day to get her nursing degree. Together, they raised seven children.

Robert Hicks first worked in construction. Then, he got a job at the Crown Zellerbach paper mill. This was a big company in Bogalusa. Not many Black people worked there back then. Hicks became a union leader at the mill. His experience helped him build a strong base for the Civil Rights Movement in Bogalusa.

Starting the Fight for Change

Robert Hicks was an active member of the NAACP. This group worked for equal rights. When the NAACP was banned in Louisiana, Hicks joined the Bogalusa Civic and Voters League (BCVL). This group also worked for voting rights.

In 1965, two civil rights workers came to Bogalusa. They were William "Bill" Yates and Steve Miller from the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Their goal was to help end segregation in public places. Robert and Valeira Hicks bravely let Yates and Miller stay in their home. This was a very risky thing to do. It was the first time white people had stayed in the Black part of Bogalusa.

On February 1, 1965, something scary happened. The police chief told Hicks that a large white mob was planning to attack his family. The police said they would not help. Robert Hicks had a tough choice. He decided to protect his guests. He told Yates and Miller they could stay. The Hicks family quickly called friends and neighbors. Many Black men arrived with guns to protect the house. The police and the mob eventually left.

This night was a turning point for civil rights in Bogalusa. It showed that people would defend themselves. Robert Hicks explained that if the police would not protect them, they had a right to protect themselves. This was different from the non-violence approach of Martin Luther King.

The Deacons for Defense and Justice

On February 21, 1965, Robert Hicks and other activists started the Bogalusa chapter of the Deacons for Defense and Justice. This group was based in Hicks' home. Many of the men who protected his family that night joined. The Deacons were formed to protect Black citizens and civil rights workers. They defended them from groups like the Ku Klux Klan. The Bogalusa chapter became very well known.

Hicks' home became the main office for the Deacons. His breakfast room was a radio communication center. They used radios because their phone lines were often cut. When someone needed help, the Deacons would quickly gather to protect them.

The Hicks house was also a meeting place for other civil rights groups. Lawyers used the living room to prepare important lawsuits. The Hicks family kept offering their home as a safe place. They also used it as a first aid station for injured activists. These activists were often turned away from the local hospital.

On May 19, 1965, a day called "Bloody Wednesday," Robert Hicks led a group to Cassidy Park. This was a white-only public park. A white mob and police attacked them. Hicks' 15-year-old son was bitten by a police dog. An elderly woman was knocked out. Both were refused treatment at the hospital. Four days later, their bravery led to a big win. The mayor signed an agreement to end segregation in Bogalusa.

Another big event was a 105-mile march to Baton Rouge in 1967. The Deacons protected the marchers for ten days. They faced attacks and threats. But they made it to the state Capitol. Even Martin Luther King Jr. eventually saw the value of the Deacons. He allowed them to provide security for his "March against Fear" in 1966.

Winning Rights Through Lawsuits

Protecting Protesters: Hicks v. Knight

In 1965, lawyers filed a lawsuit called Hicks v. Knight. It was against the Bogalusa police chief. The lawsuit argued that police should protect Black protesters. It said police should not harass or attack them. The attack on Robert Hicks' son at Cassidy Park was key evidence. A judge ordered the police to protect protesters. They also had to stop preventing people from protesting peacefully.

Stopping the Klan: United States v. Original Knights of the Ku Klux Klan

In 1965, the US government sued the Ku Klux Klan. This lawsuit aimed to stop the Klan from harming Black citizens. The case showed that the Klan admitted their goal was to stop Black people from using their civil rights. The court found that the Klan continued to harass people. This was against the law.

Fair Jobs: Hicks v. Crown Zellerbach

In 1966, Robert Hicks filed Hicks v. Crown Zellerbach. This was a very important lawsuit. It was the first of its kind under a new law. This law said it was illegal to discriminate in jobs based on race. The lawsuit challenged unfair hiring and promotion rules at the paper mill. The court's decision opened doors for Black women to work at the mill. It also helped Black workers get management jobs. After this lawsuit, Hicks became the first Black supervisor at the plant. He worked there until he retired.

Ending Segregated Housing: Hicks v. Weaver

In 1969, Hicks filed Hicks v. Weaver. This lawsuit was against the US Department of Housing. He wanted to stop new public housing that would keep people separated by race. Hicks won the case. The new housing project was stopped. This helped fight housing segregation.

Equal Schools: Jenkins v. City of Bogalusa School Board

In 1969, Robert Hicks and others filed Jenkins v. City of Bogalusa School Board. This lawsuit was for their children. Even though a 1954 ruling said schools should be equal, Bogalusa schools were still segregated. The court ruled that schools could no longer separate students by race. This meant Black and white students could finally go to the same schools.

Robert Hicks' Lasting Impact

Robert Hicks passed away in 2010. Four months later, a street in Bogalusa was renamed Robert "BOB" Hicks Street. People gathered to honor his life and work.

US Senator Mary Landrieu spoke about Robert Hicks in 2010. She called him a "lion" of the civil rights movement. She said his legal wins helped end segregation and unfair job practices across the South.

In 2014, Robert Hicks received a Civil Rights and Social Justice Award. This was given at a special event in Mississippi.

On August 26, 2014, a historical marker was placed in front of his old family home. This marker honored Robert Hicks. It was the first marker in Washington Parish for an African American. His home, the Robert "Bob" Hicks House, was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. It was recognized for its important role in the Bogalusa Civil Rights Movement.

In 2015, city leaders and citizens in Bogalusa made a public apology. They apologized for the city's racist past. This happened 50 years after "Bloody Wednesday."

Robert Hicks in Pop Culture

The 2003 TV movie Deacons for Defense tells the story of the Bogalusa Deacons. The main character, played by Forest Whitaker, is inspired by Robert Hicks and other Deacons.

In 2016, Robert Hicks' story was featured on the "Undone" podcast. The episode was called "The Deacons." It also talked about his daughter's efforts to start a civil rights museum in his name.

A shotgun used by the Deacons to protect the Hicks family is now in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.