Robert "Bob" Hicks House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Robert "Bob" Hicks House
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 924 E. Robert "Bob" Hicks (formerly 9th) St., Bogalusa, Louisiana |
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| NRHP reference No. | 14001174 |
| Added to NRHP | January 20, 2015 |
The Robert Hicks House in Bogalusa, Louisiana, was the home of a brave civil rights leader named Bob Hicks. He lived here from 1965 to 1969. This house was a very important place for meetings during the Civil Rights Movement. It was built in the early 1950s and looks like many homes from that time. It has a simple design with wooden siding and sits on concrete supports.
The property also includes an older "mill house" built in 1906. This was built by the Great Southern Lumber Company. They created the town of Bogalusa from scratch around 1906–1907.
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A Home for Change: The Robert Hicks House
Bob Hicks (1929–2010) was a key leader in the fight for equal rights. He helped start the local group of the Deacons for Defense and Justice in February 1965. This group was formed to protect civil rights activists and their families. At that time, groups like the Ku Klux Klan often attacked people who were working for civil rights. The Deacons helped keep them safe.
Hicks was also a leader of the Bogalusa Civic and Voters League (BCVL). This group worked to help Black people register to vote. Voting was a very important way to make changes and gain equal rights.
Why the House is Important
The Robert Hicks House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. This means it's recognized as a special place in American history. It's important because of its role in the Civil Rights Movement in Bogalusa. It's also important because of its connection to Bob Hicks himself.
The house was like a headquarters for the BCVL and the Deacons for Defense and Justice. Many important decisions were made here.
Standing Up for Rights
On February 1, 1965, the Hicks house was threatened. Some white people wanted to scare the activists of the BCVL. They even planned to bomb the house. But Bob Hicks and his family stood strong.
Just a few weeks later, on February 21, 1965, Hicks and others officially started the local Deacons for Defense and Justice chapter. They decided to protect themselves and others.
On May 17, 1965, Bob Hicks and other Black people tried to use a public park in Bogalusa. Even though the national Civil Rights Act of 1964 had passed the year before, many local places still kept Black people out. This law said that public places could not be separated by race.
The fight for equal access continued through the summer of 1965. In July, the United States government stepped in. They used an old law to order the local police to protect the civil rights activists. This was a big step forward.
Today, there is a special marker at the house that tells its story. The Robert Hicks Foundation is also working to create a civil rights museum at the site.
The Story on the Marker
The marker at the Robert Hicks House tells a powerful story.
Front of the Marker
The front of the marker talks about Robert "Bob" Hicks. It says he was driven by unfair treatment and violence in his community. He wanted justice and equality for everyone. He inspired many people and communities.
Mr. Hicks helped plan rallies, marches, and daily protests. He also helped organize armed protection for people who were targeted because of their race or beliefs. He even started legal challenges that helped end segregation. This meant ending "separate but unequal" rules in schools, jobs, laws, government, voting, healthcare, and housing.
Bob Hicks was a member of the NAACP, a leader in the Prince Hall Masons, and president of the Bogalusa chapter of the Deacons for Defense and Justice. He was also the first African American supervisor in the paper mill's box plant. He was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things for justice.
Back of the Marker
The back of the marker explains why the street is now called Robert "Bob" Hicks Street. On February 1, 1965, Bob Hicks learned that the Ku Klux Klan planned to bomb his home. The police told him they could not protect his family. The Klan was angry because Hicks was letting two white civil rights workers stay at his house. They demanded the workers leave that night.
Bob Hicks bravely said "no." He and his wife called friends to take their five children to a safe place. They also asked for protection. Armed Black men stood guard at the house all night.
On February 21, the Deacons for Defense and Justice from Jonesboro, Louisiana, visited Bogalusa. They came to help start a local chapter. They carried guns and used the Second Amendment (the right to bear arms) to protect people from white aggression. Bob Hicks led the way in starting the Bogalusa chapter.
The Deacons' stand against the Klan made history. It helped start a strong Civil Rights Movement in Bogalusa. It also pushed the U.S. Government to enforce the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The Hicks' home was the starting point and meeting place for the Deacons, activists, lawyers, and human rights supporters. It was a safe place for everyone. The decisions made in this home greatly impacted the future of the community, Louisiana, and the entire nation. Bob Hicks showed amazing courage in his fight for justice and equality.
See also
- Deacons for Defense (film)
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington Parish, Louisiana
