Have you ever heard of Mary Hamilton? Although her story may not be widely recognized today, Mary Hamilton’s triumph once garnered national attention, instantly solidifying her status as one of the civil rights heroes of her time. Ms. Hamilton graced the cover of JET Magazine and was featured in a New York Times article highlighting her Supreme Court victory. This landmark ruling declared that African Americans (Negroes at the time”, deserved the same respect and courtesy as their White counterparts.
Ms. Hamilton insisted on being addressed as “Miss” Hamilton, rather than by her first name, when testifying in court. In stark contrast, White witnesses were routinely referred to as “Miss, Mrs. and Mr.” during court proceedings. However, African Americans appearing in court were subjected to the demeaning practice of being called by their first names. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that this practice was another manifestation of racist disrespect, akin to being addressed as “girl” or “boy,” and declared it unequal treatment compared to White individuals.
Once again, Black women took a leading role in this battle for justice. If you believe that times have significantly changed since then, you would be mistaken. Many White people still engage in “familiar” behavior, as my uncle would put it, when interacting with Black individuals, failing to afford us the respect we deserve. For some, it remains excruciatingly difficult to extend any form of deference.
HISTORY OF MISS MARY HAMILTON (Thurgood Marshall Institute)
Mary Hamilton was a civil rights activist and Freedom Rider who worked with CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) as one of only two female field secretaries for the organization and the first sent to organize in the South. Prior to taking her post, it was believed that men were best suited for organizing on the ground. Ms. Hamilton would prove herself to be a remarkably effective community organizer, well-known throughout the movement for riding into small rural towns in the South and organizing non-violent protests from the ground up.
Ms. Hamilton was arrested multiple times for her organization of and participation in non-violent protests. However, her court appearance in 1963 would lead to a groundbreaking victory for African Americans within the routine nomenclature and decorum of legal proceedings at that time.
As Mary Hamilton was testifying as a witness in a case in Alabama, the prosecutor referred to Ms. Hamilton only by her first name as was the custom when addressing African Americans in a courtroom. The honorifics of Mr., Miss, or Mrs. were reserved only for Whites. Similar to using the terms “boy” or “girl” to refer to Black men and women during this era, the refusal to grant African Americans the recognition of being addressed as a gentleman or lady was a minor yet incredibly transparent device used to infuse even the shortest verbal interactions with a painful reminder that they were not equal to whites, inside or outside of the courtroom.
Recognizing this, Ms. Hamilton refused to respond to the prosecutor stating that she would answer only when addressed respectfully. The judge found her in contempt of court, fined her $50, and sentenced her to five days in jail.
“Mary, and a couple of women were arrested for picketing the movie theater which forced people of color to sit in the balcony. The Mayor came to gloat. Mary said he was a sweaty little man. “Well Mary and Rose and Brenda, how do you feel about what you got yourself into, NOW?”
Mary said (hand on hip), “Our names are MISS Hamilton, MRS. Tompkins and MRS. Jenkins. And if you don’t know how to talk to a lady, then get out of my cell! AND, this place is FILTHY, and I want it cleaned up, NOW.’ The Mayor backed out of the cell and soon, someone came to clean the place.”
Represented by LDF attorneys, Ms. Hamilton’s case would go all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in her favor, in the 1964 landmark decision, Ex parte Mary Hamilton. Ala. Sup. Ct., 7 Div. 621. The decision established that people of color are entitled to the same courtesies and honorifics as Whites.
The Scoodie 