The proclamation is signed and Robert Smalls will finally get the day he earned in Charleston. This has been a long and draining road but I am relieved we reached this point together. Thank you for staying with me through the silence and the setbacks.
January 9, 2022
Final supporters
Robert Smalls was born in Beaufort in 1839, the son of a house slave named Lidia Polite. When Robert was 12 years old he was moved to Charleston and hired out at the Planters Hotel by his master Henry McKee. By 17 Robert was married to Hannah Jones, a wash woman, who worked at the Hotel as well. They would have two children together. Robert ended up working on board a side wheel steamer, cotton ship called The Planter. He was the wheel man for Captain James Ferguson. During the Civil War the ship was leased to the Confederate Navy. Robert stayed on as the wheel man. Wanting his wife and children to be free, Robert and several other enslaved African Americans stole The Planter in the early morning of May 13, 1862. Robert surrendered the ship to the US Navy and was offered the job as the civilian pilot as the ship was commissioned into service for the US. He would eventually rise to the rank of captain. After the war Robert served in the South Carolina State legislature. In 1868 he was a delegate to the South Carolina Constitutional Convention. In 1884 He was sworn in to his first of five terms as a US Congressman. I consider Robert Smalls the greatest person in American history. He doesn't get the recognition that he deserves, just a couple of historical markers in Charleston. I want to petition the Mayor of Charleston to proclaim May 13th Robert Smalls Day. That is the day he commandeered the Planter and drove it out of the Charleston Harbor to freedom.
Updates
October 18, 2021
The quiet from the mayor's office is frustrating but I expected as much. I am still sending these emails and checking my inbox every morning for any response at all. This fight for the recognition Robert Smalls deserves remains necessary.
Reached 100 supporters
October 18, 2021
24 Comments
I think He should be recognized for his achviement and hard work and dedication and being a black man they always wait I'll we die than give us the credit we deserve it's a lot of African Americans you hear about in History I hope he gets his sign up in the History books Thank you sincerelyRonald Baxter jr United States coast guard
A Great man that ripped the control away from others and gained Freedom to help others...
A true American and Charlestonian hero who deserves our recognition and respect.
I always loved hearing Capt Brian tell the story of Robert Smalls to the people on our dolphin tours out to Morris island during my time as marine biologist aboard the catamaran the palmetto! My son is half Jamaican and born right here at MUSC and I would love to share this holiday with him. Also, we are very much looking forward to the internantional african American museum in 2020 down by the harbor!!
I am a native, grew up here, still live here, am raising my kids here, WHY have I never heard this amazing story?!
I support this initiative.
I saw his story on Mysteries at the Museum a few years ago. So interesting
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The proclamation is signed and Robert Smalls will finally get the day he earned in Charleston. This has been a long and draining road but I am relieved we reached this point together. Thank you for staying with me through the silence and the setbacks.
January 9, 2022
Final supporters
Robert Smalls was born in Beaufort in 1839, the son of a house slave named Lidia Polite. When Robert was 12 years old he was moved to Charleston and hired out at the Planters Hotel by his master Henry McKee. By 17 Robert was married to Hannah Jones, a wash woman, who worked at the Hotel as well. They would have two children together. Robert ended up working on board a side wheel steamer, cotton ship called The Planter. He was the wheel man for Captain James Ferguson. During the Civil War the ship was leased to the Confederate Navy. Robert stayed on as the wheel man. Wanting his wife and children to be free, Robert and several other enslaved African Americans stole The Planter in the early morning of May 13, 1862. Robert surrendered the ship to the US Navy and was offered the job as the civilian pilot as the ship was commissioned into service for the US. He would eventually rise to the rank of captain. After the war Robert served in the South Carolina State legislature. In 1868 he was a delegate to the South Carolina Constitutional Convention. In 1884 He was sworn in to his first of five terms as a US Congressman. I consider Robert Smalls the greatest person in American history. He doesn't get the recognition that he deserves, just a couple of historical markers in Charleston. I want to petition the Mayor of Charleston to proclaim May 13th Robert Smalls Day. That is the day he commandeered the Planter and drove it out of the Charleston Harbor to freedom.
Updates
October 18, 2021
The quiet from the mayor's office is frustrating but I expected as much. I am still sending these emails and checking my inbox every morning for any response at all. This fight for the recognition Robert Smalls deserves remains necessary.
Reached 100 supporters
October 18, 2021
24 Comments
I conduct a presentation called "Unveiled" where I unveil great African Americans in history. He deserves this honor.
I think He should be recognized for his achviement and hard work and dedication and being a black man they always wait I'll we die than give us the credit we deserve it's a lot of African Americans you hear about in History I hope he gets his sign up in the History books Thank you sincerelyRonald Baxter jr United States coast guard
A Great man that ripped the control away from others and gained Freedom to help others...
A true American and Charlestonian hero who deserves our recognition and respect.
I always loved hearing Capt Brian tell the story of Robert Smalls to the people on our dolphin tours out to Morris island during my time as marine biologist aboard the catamaran the palmetto! My son is half Jamaican and born right here at MUSC and I would love to share this holiday with him. Also, we are very much looking forward to the internantional african American museum in 2020 down by the harbor!!
I am a native, grew up here, still live here, am raising my kids here, WHY have I never heard this amazing story?!
I support this initiative.
I saw his story on Mysteries at the Museum a few years ago. So interesting
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I conduct a presentation called "Unveiled" where I unveil great African Americans in history. He deserves this honor.