It's Black History Month! Today, we're talking about Robert Smalls. Smalls was born enslaved, worked on ships for the confederacy whilst enslaved, and then took it upon himself to steal a steam ship, save his family & others, sail past Ft Sumter in the middle of the night, and provide the Union with guns & info. Later, he went back south, invested in his community, and represented them in Congress. Join us for this heroic tale!
It's Black History Month! Today, we're talking about Robert Smalls. Smalls was born enslaved, worked on ships for the confederacy whilst enslaved, and then took it upon himself to steal a steam ship, save his family & others, sail past Ft Sumter in the middle of the night, and provide the Union with guns & info.
Later, he went back south, invested in his community, and represented them in Congress.
Join us for this heroic tale!
Some sources:
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/robert-smalls-bold-feat-so-skillfully
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/which-slave-sailed-himself-to-freedom/
https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/21764