Black History Month: Do we know about this man? If not, let's learn.

[Mira]

Robert Smalls



Do yourself a favor. Read the details of the life of this man and give honor to his memory, courage and statesmanship.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smalls

[Ron Green]

1. He is my #1 hero. His is the best story in all American history.

I’ve made somewhat of a pilgrimage to his house in Beaufort, behind which he was born into slavery and which he bought after his commission in the US Navy. Returning to the house to live, he allowed his former master’s widow to live there until her death, following dementia in which she imagined herself still mistress of the house.

[Mira]

2. To me - this was a gem of a find

I live in NC, and now I will give his life some study, and come better weather I will have a destination for an excursion. It's exciting. Thank you for your response.

[SKKY]

3. Robert Smalls, the first black person to say...

...”I can’t do what? Hold my beer.” A legit Boss, in the purest sense of the word.

[Skittles]

4. WOW

absolutely FASCINATING

[SunSeeker]

5. He got AAs into the Union Army and established the first free compulsory public school system.

There should be statues of him everywhere, but few have even heard of him.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. I hear Virginia is going to have some statue space opening up soon.

Might be time to replace a few traitor statues with hero statues.

[lunatica]

7. He fought odds much greater than we are fighting now.

People with that kind of courage leave me in awe.

“My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life."

[Joinfortmill]

9. Amen to that

[Dem2theMax]

8. I just finished reading the Wikipedia entry on him.

I am flabbergasted that I never knew anything about this man.

Good morning, sir! I've brought you some of the old United States guns, sir!'" That man was Robert Smalls.

The whole thing reads like a book that you never want to put down. A book that can't possibly be true, because it is so impossible to believe all of this happened. But it did.

I am sure the Wikipedia entry was just the tip of the iceberg. Tomorrow I am going to be buying some books about Robert Smalls. What an American Hero!

[Brother Buzz]

10. The Audacity of Robert Smalls Michael B. Moore TEDxStMarksSchool

[Mira]

12. With great interest I listened to this TED talk by his great grandson

I'm overwhelmed by what I learned and heard and the pride of this man in his monumental heritage. I'm thrilled I found out about Robert Smalls, no less in black history month, and am so glad I made the post about him so others can also.

[smirkymonkey]

11. K&R

What a remarkable person! It amazes me that most of us have never heard of him considering what an incredible life he led.

Kind of interesting that he ran as a Republican and founded the Republican party of SC, but things were kind of reversed back in those days. He'd turn over in his grave if he saw what his party had become today.

[LanternWaste]

13. What a weird damned coincidence.

I'm reading 'The New York City Draft Riots' by Iver Bernstein and Smalls' name came up more than a few times (he was invited, then immediately de-invited to NY City after his capture of the confederate ship).

I didn't know the name when I came across it and looked him up just yesterday.

[Dem2theMax]

14. Kicking!

I am sure a lot more people would love to read about Robert Smalls.

Click on the link in the OP folks. It's well worth your time.

[StarfishSaver]

15. His is an incredible story

[Hermit-The-Prog]

16. kicking because badass