Joe Hicks was born into slavery in the early 1800s in Utica, Mississippi. His first cries were not met with celebration but with the weight of a life predetermined by others. He grew up in the fields, learning early how to endure the backbreaking labor of cotton picking under the punishing Southern sun. Yet, within him burned a spirit that no whip could break, no master could truly own.
Amidst the cruelty of bondage, Joe found love in Grace Stimmage, a fellow enslaved soul whose strength and kindness gave him hope. Their love was a quiet rebellion, a force that defied the system meant to strip them of their humanity. Together, they built a family, welcoming two sons, Phil and Emmanuel, into a world of struggle but also of dreams. Joe was determined to instill in them the will to survive and the knowledge that they were more than the conditions they were born into.
When the Civil War ended and freedom was declared, Joe and Grace stepped into an uncertain world, no longer bound by chains but still surrounded by oppression. They worked tirelessly, carving out a life in the only land they had ever known. Phil and Emmanuel grew into men, carrying their parents’ lessons in their hearts. They married and had families of their own, expanding the Hicks name beyond Utica, beyond Mississippi, beyond the South.
As the years passed, the Hicks family became a testament to resilience. Each generation built upon the sacrifices of the last—farmers became factory workers, factory workers became entrepreneurs, teachers, engineers, doctors and world renowned actors. From the rural lands of Mississippi to the bustling streets of northern cities, and later to distant continents, Joe Hicks’ descendants continue to carry his name with pride.
Now, nine generations later, the Hicks family is a global network of individuals connected by the legacy of one man. Every two years, they gather for a family reunion, an event that has become a sacred tradition. Hundreds of relatives—some meeting for the first time, others reuniting like no time has passed—come together to celebrate their shared history.
Joe Hicks may have been born into bondage, but his legacy is one of liberation. His descendants are his victory, a testament that love, resilience, and family can outlast even the most unbearable circumstances. And with each reunion, his name is spoken, his story is told, and his legacy continues to live on.