Louise Day Hicks
Encyclopedia
Anna Louise Day Hicks was an American
politician and lawyer from Boston, Massachusetts, best known for her staunch opposition to court-ordered busing in the 1960s and 1970s.
. She opened a law office — Hicks and Day — with her brother John. She ran successfully for the Boston School Committee in 1961, presenting herself as a reform candidate. In January 1963, she became the Committee chairperson and seemed likely to be endorsed by the leading reform group when, in June, the Boston chapter of the NAACP demanded "an immediate public acknowledgment of de facto
segregation in the Boston public school system." At the time, 13 city schools were at least 90% black.
of students into inner-city schools to achieve integration.
By refusing to admit segregation existed in city schools and by declaring that children were the "pawns" of racial politics, she came to personify the discord that existed between some working class
Irish-Americans and African-Americans. "Boston schools are a scapegoat for those who have failed to solve the housing, economic, and social problems of the black citizen," Hicks said. She asserted that while 13 Boston schools were at least 90% black
, Chinatown schools were 100% Chinese, the North End had schools that were 100% Italian American
, and South Boston contained schools that were mostly Irish American
. The Boston Public Schools included a conglomerate of ethnic Caucasians with very few WASPs
.
John W. McCormack retired, Hicks beat out 11 other candidates to win the Democratic primary for his South Boston-based Congressional district; in heavily Democratic Boston, the winner of that primary was essentially assured victory in the November election. She served one term in the United States House of Representatives
from 1971 to 1973, becoming the first female Democrat to represent Massachusetts in the House. A member of the National Organization for Women
, while in Congress Hicks lobbied for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment
. She sought reelection, but was narrowly defeated in the general election by City Councilman Joe Moakley
, a more liberal Democrat who was running as an Independent. Moakley reverted to his Democratic party affiliation after he entered the House.
In 1973, Hicks ran for the Boston City Council again and won. Her most notable campaign took place in autumn 1975, after a federal judge ordered Boston schools to expand their busing programs to comply with the 1971 Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
decision. To counter the trend, Hicks started an organization called Restore Our Alienated Rights
(ROAR) which actively engaged in incidents of massive resistance
to school desegregation. In 1976, Hicks was elected the first woman president of the Boston City Council
, largely on the strength of ROAR, which was then at its peak. During this time Hicks supported another controversial position, a curfew for minors in the city of Boston.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and lawyer from Boston, Massachusetts, best known for her staunch opposition to court-ordered busing in the 1960s and 1970s.
Early life
She was the daughter of William and Anna (née McCarron) Day. Her father was a lawyer and an influential judge in Boston; he inspired her to become a lawyer at a time when female lawyers were rare. Her mother died when she was 14. In 1942, she married John Hicks, an engineer, and they had two sons, John and William.Career
After her father's death in 1950, Hicks resolved to follow in his footsteps. By 1955, she had earned a law degree from Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. She opened a law office — Hicks and Day — with her brother John. She ran successfully for the Boston School Committee in 1961, presenting herself as a reform candidate. In January 1963, she became the Committee chairperson and seemed likely to be endorsed by the leading reform group when, in June, the Boston chapter of the NAACP demanded "an immediate public acknowledgment of de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
segregation in the Boston public school system." At the time, 13 city schools were at least 90% black.
De facto segregation
The Committee refused to acknowledge the segregation. Hicks was recognized as the holdout; within months she became Boston's most popular politician and the most controversial, requiring police bodyguards 24 hours a day. Hicks became nationally known in 1965 when she opposed court-ordered busingDesegregation busing
Desegregation busing in the United States is the practice of assigning and transporting students to schools in such a manner as to redress prior racial segregation of schools, or to overcome the effects of residential segregation on local school demographics.In 1954, the U.S...
of students into inner-city schools to achieve integration.
By refusing to admit segregation existed in city schools and by declaring that children were the "pawns" of racial politics, she came to personify the discord that existed between some working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
Irish-Americans and African-Americans. "Boston schools are a scapegoat for those who have failed to solve the housing, economic, and social problems of the black citizen," Hicks said. She asserted that while 13 Boston schools were at least 90% black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, Chinatown schools were 100% Chinese, the North End had schools that were 100% Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
, and South Boston contained schools that were mostly Irish American
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
. The Boston Public Schools included a conglomerate of ethnic Caucasians with very few WASPs
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant or WASP is an informal term, often derogatory or disparaging, for a closed group of high-status Americans mostly of British Protestant ancestry. The group supposedly wields disproportionate financial and social power. When it appears in writing, it is usually used to...
.
Mayoral bid, City Council, and Congress
In 1967, Hicks came within 12,000 votes of being elected Mayor of Boston, running on the coded slogan "You know where I stand." The race against fellow Democrat Kevin White became so acrimonious that the Boston Globe broke a 75-year tradition of political neutrality to endorse White. After the unsuccessful mayoral bid, Hicks ran for City Council and won. Two years later, after SpeakerSpeaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
John W. McCormack retired, Hicks beat out 11 other candidates to win the Democratic primary for his South Boston-based Congressional district; in heavily Democratic Boston, the winner of that primary was essentially assured victory in the November election. She served one term in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1971 to 1973, becoming the first female Democrat to represent Massachusetts in the House. A member of the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
, while in Congress Hicks lobbied for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
. She sought reelection, but was narrowly defeated in the general election by City Councilman Joe Moakley
Joe Moakley
John Joseph "Joe" Moakley was a Democratic congressman from the Ninth District of Massachusetts, a seat held two years earlier by Speaker John William McCormack. Moakley was the last chairman of the U.S...
, a more liberal Democrat who was running as an Independent. Moakley reverted to his Democratic party affiliation after he entered the House.
In 1973, Hicks ran for the Boston City Council again and won. Her most notable campaign took place in autumn 1975, after a federal judge ordered Boston schools to expand their busing programs to comply with the 1971 Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, 402 U.S. 1 was an important United States Supreme Court case dealing with the busing of students to promote integration in public schools...
decision. To counter the trend, Hicks started an organization called Restore Our Alienated Rights
Restore Our Alienated Rights
Restore Our Alienated Rights was an anti-desegregation busing organization formed in Boston, Massachusetts by Louise Day Hicks in about 1974. The group's purpose was to fight off U.S. Federal Judge W...
(ROAR) which actively engaged in incidents of massive resistance
Massive resistance
Massive resistance was a policy declared by U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr. on February 24, 1956, to unite other white politicians and leaders in Virginia in a campaign of new state laws and policies to prevent public school desegregation after the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision...
to school desegregation. In 1976, Hicks was elected the first woman president of the Boston City Council
Boston City Council
The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councilors are elected to two-year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms an individual can serve...
, largely on the strength of ROAR, which was then at its peak. During this time Hicks supported another controversial position, a curfew for minors in the city of Boston.