Robert Smalls was a prominent figure in Black history, known for his incredible bravery and accomplishments during the Civil War era. Born into slavery on April 5, 1839 in Beaufort, South Carolina, Smalls worked as a house servant and eventually as a pilot on a Confederate transport ship, the CSS Planter.

On May 13, 1862, Smalls hatched a daring plan to escape slavery by commandeering the CSS Planter and sailing it past Confederate checkpoints to surrender to the Union blockade. Disguised in a captain's uniform and knowing the Confederate naval codes, Smalls and a small group of African American crew members successfully navigated the ship out of Charleston Harbor and delivered it to the Union Navy.

His courageous act not only secured freedom for himself, his family, and the enslaved crew members on board, but also provided valuable intelligence to the Union Army. Smalls went on to serve in the Union Navy and later became the first African American captain of a U.S. military vessel.

After the war, Smalls became involved in politics and was elected to the South Carolina State Legislature and later to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he advocated for civil rights and social justice. He was a trailblazer in the fight for equality and his legacy continues to inspire generations of Black Americans.