[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 11, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING MR. ROBERT ``BOBBY'' HICKMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KEITH ELLISON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2015

  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Robert ``Bobby'' 
Hickman, to recognize his lifetime of persistently fighting for social 
change and mentoring the youth of our community over many decades.
  Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Robert was a fourth-generation St. 
Paulite. His father was a descendant of the founders of Pilgrim Baptist 
Church and his mother came from a family of educators. Robert 
recognized the importance of his heritage and the deep rooted community 
ties that were instilled in him at an early age. Hickman served as a 
mechanical engineer in the Air Force and returned to St. Paul in the 
1960's. It was during this tumultuous time of the civil rights movement 
that Robert became an activist within his community. In 1968 he founded 
the Inner City Youth League and served as the Executive Director for 
the next 20 years.
  Robert believed in the importance of empowering and educating youth. 
The Inner City Youth League taught teenagers art, black history, music, 
and theater. He would sponsor forums to allow African-American youth to 
question city officials. He even ran a public television show called 
``Black Voices'' and trained community members in video production.
  Robert often came up with creative ways to protest the powers that be 
in his community. When the city of St. Paul razed houses for urban 
renewal he created community gardens out of the vacant plots. He 
advocated employment programs for young African-Americans, pushed for 
stronger schools, and protested profiling by police. After his work 
with Inner City Youth he teamed up with the advocacy and social 
services group The City Inc. in Minneapolis which opened one of the 
very first alternative schools in Minnesota.
  Robert was more than just an activist; he was truly a community 
leader. He wore many hats throughout his personal and professional 
life. He was a small business owner and even an occasional actor 
playing the role of Frederick Douglas in Minnesota's Juneteenth 
celebrations. He discovered Buddhism and made trips to Kenya and Ghana. 
Most recently he worked with the Cultural Wellness Center in 
Minneapolis with young men, many of whom were referred there by the 
criminal justice system.
  Throughout Robert's life he always continued to overcome divisions 
between city officials and community members. He was able to overcome 
cultural, racial, and generational divides to unite people in finding 
common ground while consistently and persistently supporting the 
community's black youth.
  Robert ``Bobby'' Hickman passed away on January 28, 2015 at the age 
of 79. His work to improve and inspire the lives of African-American 
youth will resonate in the hearts and minds of the community for 
generations to come. He viewed his life's work as a calling and there 
is no nobler calling than mentoring and empowering our nation's future.

                          ____________________