Good News for Robert Smalls Fans, S.C. Launches Monument Commission
Some good news just came in! South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to sign a bill establishing a shiny new 11-member legislative commission. But wait a minute…before you scratch your head, this commission isn’t for any old routine stuff. Nope, it’s for honouring Civil War superhero and Reconstruction-era lawmaker, Robert Smalls, with a statue at the Statehouse’s premises.
Sounds like a difficult task, right? Well, the big day for this commission’s first meeting is right around the corner, penciled in for Aug. 28. It’s going to be quite the moment when the 10 well chosen members of the S.C. General Assembly descend to discuss this exciting project.
And here’s a cool fact, if the statue of Smalls is installed, it’ll be the first monument dedicated to an individual Black person at the state’s capitol complex. Now isn’t that something to make your heart swell!
Remember May 13? That’s right, it was the first Robert Smalls Day ever observed in South Carolina. A day when we honored a civil war knight and a reform-era lawmaker. Well, now we’re about to get a monument as the cherry on top!
The People Behind the Scenes
So, who do we have to thank for this awesome bill? None other than S.C. Rep. Brandon Cox, R-Berkeley, who introduced it in the S.C. House. And here’s some more good news, the bill got the unanimous nod from the General Assembly in the latest legislative session.
A big shout out to House Speaker G. Murrell Smith Jr., R-Sumter, who also appended S.C. Rep. Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston to the commission. Wendell did well to honour Smalls for his great leadership, motivation, and, get this, his “enormous” amount of courage.
Some others joining the commission are Jermaine Johnson Sr., D-Richland, Patrick Bonner Haddon, R-Greenville, and Sylleste H. Davis, R-Berkeley. Also, let’s not forget S.C. Senators Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington; Shane Massey, R-Edgefield; Tom Davis, R-Beaufort; Chip Campsen III, R-Charleston; and Margie Bright Matthews, D-Colleton.
Robert Smalls: The Legend
Here’s a quick flashback: on May 13, 1862, Smalls, while still an enslaved crewman, hijacked Planter, a Confederate steamship in Charleston, and handed it over to the Union Navy. Other enslaved crewmen and their families onboard accompanied him as Smalls navigated the ship past Confederate defenses like a pro.
This audacious move catapulted Smalls into history, politics, and business. He bagged seats in both the S.C. General Assembly’s houses and then served five terms in the U.S. Congress. Talk about achievements!
The commission, meanwhile, has time till Jan. 15, 2025, to come up with a design and location proposal for the monument. One commission member, Gilliard, has already suggested the north side of the Statehouse as a perfect place for the monument.
When the monument is eventually installed, it will be the second African American history memorial at the capitol. We already have the African American History Monument, a masterpiece by Denver artist Ed Dwight, completed back in 2001.
This is just the Beginning
Moving forward, the challenge for the commission is enormous. They’ve got to make sure that the monument helps keep Smalls’ memory alive – his story, his achievements, and his bravery. But the good news is that they’ve already set the wheels in motion. Here’s to many more monuments and recognitions for our African American heroes!
