An honor for a true hero!
Robert Smalls was born enslaved in 1839 in Beaufort, South Carolina, AP News reports. A freedom fighter, Smalls is best known for disguising himself in Confederate clothes during the war to steal a slaveholder’s ship and sail his family and at least a dozen others to freedom during the Civil War. After the war, Smalls brought his master’s house with the money he made for turning over the stolen ship to Union troops. He would then venture into politics, serving a decade in the South Carolina House and Senate, where he fought valiantly for Black men’s rights, helping rewrite South Carolina’s Consitution to create equality for Black men. Now, more than a century after he died in 1915, Smalls is being honored for his contributions to American history, becoming the first African American in South Carolina to receive a monument.
“The man has done so many great things, it’s just a travesty he has not been honored until now. Heck, it’s also a travesty there isn’t some big Hollywood movie out there about his life,” said Democratic South Carolina Rep. Jermaine Johnson.
For years, officials have tried to propose a bill to establish a statue in Smalls’ honor but were met with opposition each time. Earlier this year, the proposal was approved unanimously in the state House and Senate with the help of Republican Rep. Brandon Cox.
“South Carolina is a great state. We’ve got a lot of history, good and bad. This is our good history,” said Cox.
Now, a special committee will decide the monument’s design. The committee has until January 15th to solidify a design, location on the Statehouse lawn, and funds to commission the piece. While there is a lot to figure out, the hard part is done, and many South Carolina natives are happy to see such a fitting honor 130 years in the making.
“This is going to tell a story. I think it is important that we tell that the right way to honor him and to honor South Carolina. I think it’s really cool,” said Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey.
Cover photo: Civil War Era Politician Robert Smalls Becomes First African American to Receive Monument in South Carolina/Robert Smalls circa 1870-1880/Photo credit: Library of Congress/Associated Press