Marie Hicks facts for kids

Marie A. Hicks (born December 20, 1923 – died April 19, 2007) was an African-American activist. She worked hard during the American Civil Rights Movement. People called her "the Rosa Parks of Girard College." This was because she led many protests at the school in the 1960s. Her actions helped her sons and other African-American students attend the school. Before this, only white students could go there.

Early Life and Family

Marie Hicks was born in Harlem, New York on December 20, 1923. She married Junius Fletcher Hicks (1921–1964). He served in the United States Army during World War II.

In the 1960s, Marie and Junius moved to North Philadelphia. They lived near Girard College. This school had a large wall around it. At that time, only white students who had lost their fathers could attend.

Fighting for Civil Rights

Marie Hicks had two sons, Charles and Theodore. They could not go to Girard College because of its rules about race. This made Marie Hicks want to make a change. She became a strong voice for her sons and her community.

She led thousands of protests at Girard College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These protests helped show everyone that the school was unfair. Famous leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Cecil B. Moore joined her.

Marie Hicks did more than just protest. She also sued the college. Because of her efforts, the school finally allowed students of all races. Her sons, Charles and Theodore Hicks, were among the first four African-American students to enroll. Theodore later became the school's first black valedictorian. Years later, in the 1980s, the college also began to accept its first female students.

Later Years and Education

In the 1970s, Marie Hicks started working at La Salle University as a maid. While working, she also took night classes there. In 1980, she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology.

She also wrote for a newspaper in Philadelphia called Scoop. She met and worked with women who did not have homes. Marie Hicks stayed active even when she was older. She volunteered with senior citizens at a program called Center in the Park’s Intergenerational Programs.

Illness and Passing

Marie Hicks was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. She passed away on April 19, 2007, at the age of 83. She died from problems related to her illness in Germantown, Pennsylvania. She was buried next to her husband at the Beverly National Cemetery in Burlington, New Jersey.

See also

In Spanish: Marie Hicks para niños