South Carolina is erecting its first-ever statue of an African American in honor of a Civil War hero who escaped slavery and became a prominent political figure after pretending to be a confederate soldier.
Robert Smalls was born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1839. He gained notoriety during the Civil War after posing as a confederate soldier to commandeer the Confederate ship CSS Planter. Smalls was victorious in leading his family and others aboard the ship to freedom.
Following the war, Smalls served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and helped rewrite South Carolina's constitution, securing civil rights for African Americans.
"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," Rep. Jermaine Johnson said, as reported by AP News.
The state's goal to honor Smalls has been met with years of resistance, and only gained momentum in 2024. Public interest in the initiative ultimately led to a unanimous approval of the bill from the state House and Senate this year.
"South Carolina is a great state. We've got a lot of history, good and bad. This is our good history," Republican state Representative Brandon Cox, co-sponsor of the bill, said.
A committee is now tasked with figuring out the logistics of the statue by January 15, including its design and location on the Statehouse lawn. Additionally, they are working together to best represent Smalls' contributions to racial equality and his service as a significant political figure.
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