Robert Smalls was an important figure in Black history known for his daring escape from slavery and subsequent leadership in the fight against slavery and for civil rights. Born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina in 1839, Smalls worked as a ship's pilot and harbor pilot. In 1862, during the Civil War, he saw an opportunity for freedom and boldly commandeered a Confederate transport ship, the CSS Planter, and sailed it past Confederate checkpoints to deliver it to the Union blockade.

Smalls' courageous act not only secured his own freedom but also the freedom of his family and several other enslaved individuals who stowed away on the ship. He became a hero in the North and continued to serve the Union cause during the Civil War. After the war, Smalls went on to have a successful political career, serving in the South Carolina State Legislature and later in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Throughout his life, Smalls advocated for the rights of African Americans, fighting against segregation and discrimination. His legacy as a freedom fighter and advocate for civil rights is remembered and celebrated in Black history.