From slavery to the State House — Lawmakers break ground on Robert Smalls Monument
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — From being born into slavery — to serving in the U.S. House of Representatives — Robert Smalls will soon be memorialized on State House grounds.
And figures like George Washington, Ben Tillman, Wade Hampton, and Strom Thurmond will soon be in new company.
Wednesday morning, a number of Democratic and Republican legislators joined alongside Governor Henry McMaster to celebrate the future site of a 12-foot monument for the former U.S. Representative.
“For far too long, the contributions of Black South Carolinians were overlooked, minimized, or left out entirely from the public spaces of power in this state. But not today,” says Senator Margie Bright Matthews.
Smalls will become the first African-American man to be enshrined on State House grounds. The monument will be in the Northeast area of the grounds, located near the African American monument, and not too far from the Monument to the Confederate Dead at the front of the State House off of Gervais Street.
Born into slavery in Beaufort in 1839, he would go on to commandeer a Confederate ship during the Civil War in his early twenties — delivering himself, his family, and other passengers to freedom.
“Can you imagine? A Black man once a slave…we are proud of him and we just hope that we can somehow live up to his legacy and what we do everyday,” says Senator Matthews.
Smalls later served in the SC House of Representatives and SC Senate — as well as the U.S. House of Representatives. He’s now considered one of the founders of the SC Republican Party.
Smalls also became the first Black pilot in the U.S Navy, was a champion of education for former slaves, and fought for the political rights of Black Americans under Jim Crow Laws.
“He worked in that building on both sides of the lobby, and then worked in Congress — that is worthy of recognition in South Carolina,” says Rep. Brandon Cox, sponsor of the bill to have Smalls’ statue built.
“It’s going to be the best part of SC, because when these young kids who are coming on tours at the State House get to walk by and read the information on the statue about who Robert Smalls was, it’s just a position of personal pride,” says co-sponsor and Rep. Jermaine Johnson.
Senator Gerald Malloy says Smalls helped take over the Confederate ship on may 13th, 1862– exactly 164 years ago to the day.
“How monumental it is, for it to happen on his anniversary. That lets us know that this is predestined,” says Malloy.
ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams spoke with Smalls’ descendant, Lawrence Smalls.
“Just from hearing my family members talk, I think he was a very proud man, and he was very passionate about what he did, and he believed in self sacrifice, I guess that’s the best message I can say is he believed in the greater good. Do for yourself but at the same time make sure you’re doing for others,” says Lawrence.
Smalls died in Beaufort in 1915 where he had been born into slavery. He later returned to purchase that home.
Smalls’ monument is expected to be erected by the end of 2027. To donate to help build the monument, click here.
