Robert Smalls was an African American born into slavery in South Carolina in 1839. Despite being enslaved, he managed to learn how to read and write, and he worked on various jobs, including as a deckhand and steersman on a Confederate transport ship during the Civil War.

In May 1862, Smalls made a daring and heroic escape by commandeering a Confederate ship, the CSS Planter, with several enslaved crew members and their families aboard. Disguising himself as the captain, Smalls sailed the ship past Confederate checkpoints and surrendered it to the Union Navy blockading Charleston harbor. This act of bravery not only freed himself and the others on board but also provided valuable intelligence to the Union forces.

After the war, Robert Smalls went on to have a successful career in politics. He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, the South Carolina Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. Smalls was a strong advocate for civil rights and fought against segregation and discrimination.

Robert Smalls' story is a powerful example of courage, resilience, and perseverance in the face of adversity. He is remembered as a pioneer for African American rights and a symbol of the indomitable spirit of freedom.