Comments on: Civil War hero Robert Smalls seized the opportunity to be free

Civil War hero Robert Smalls seized the opportunity to be free

Blasdelb — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:40:18 -0800

Robert Smalls sat at the conference table next to Frederick Douglass as they tried to convince President Abraham Lincoln that African Americans should be allowed to fight for their own freedom. He served five terms in Congress. He ran a newspaper and helped found a state Republican Party.

But first, he had to win his freedom.

By: Etrigan

Etrigan — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:17:00 -0800

Jordan Peele, your Academy Award is calling.

By: justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow

justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:42:00 -0800

I'm fond of the story of Robert Blake. To the best of my knowledge, he's the only sailor classified as contraband to recieve the Medal of Honor.

By: twoleftfeet

twoleftfeet — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:48:07 -0800

Smalls was born in Beaufort, S.C., on April 5, 1839, the son of Lydia Polite, a slave who was a housekeeper in the city home of John McKee An odd detail: Does anybody know anything about surnames for slaves? How did she get a name like "Lydia Polite"? I assume she was polite, but is this how last names were given out? Slaves didn't have last names, right? Were they given last names based on personal characteristics?

By: bonobothegreat

bonobothegreat — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:18:14 -0800

Thanks for posting this. Cool that they arranged to pick up their families. It was mentioned on a PBS documentary and I had wondered if the escapees' immediate relatives had suffered any repercussions.

By: shoesietart

shoesietart — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:53:14 -0800

I'd never heard this story. I love Black History Month. :P Thanks for posting this.

By: Vindaloo

Vindaloo — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:19:06 -0800

I love this story, it's awesome in so many ways. Thanks for sharing!

By: dhartung

dhartung — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:03:36 -0800

twoleftfeet: There has been much debate among scholars, historians and genealogists whether enslaved African Americans used the surnames of their last owners, previous owners, or a surname that had no connection to slavery. I think the answer is that practices varied widely and there is no one definitive answer. For the most part, many slaves had no need of a surname since they had little contact with the world of contracts and other instruments for which they were needed. In certain cases slaves had jobs, like Smalls, outside of a plantation or household context, which would necessitate one. Anyway, I'd heard this story before but hadn't known of his role with Douglass and Lincoln, so that was interesting. The story itself is thrilling and how wonderful that it's a narrative where black American slaves are their own heroes saving themselves instead of objects being freed by some white protagonist.

By: Harald74

Harald74 — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:44:34 -0800

"Mrs. McKee, after the war was over, came wandering to the house one day," Moore said. "Because of her dementia, she didn't realize the house was no longer hers. . . . Given her illness, Robert allowed her to stay."

In addition to being brave and resourceful, he was apparently a compassionate human being as well.

By: billyfleetwood

billyfleetwood — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:12:07 -0800

More background on his congressional service.

By: el io

el io — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 02:13:24 -0800

Fascinating story, billyfleetwood's link flushed it out even more. great stuff (and certainly movie worthy!).

By: el io

el io — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 02:20:10 -0800

Trailer for the documentary on him.

By: Fists O'Fury

Fists O'Fury — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 05:33:11 -0800

Found out about Smalls about a month or so ago. Dude is my new hero. I'm amazed that there's no movie about him, though I realize full well they'd just f*ck it up.

By: Uppity Pigeon #2

Uppity Pigeon #2 — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 11:07:34 -0800

How have I never heard of this guy? That's just fantastic.

By: mareli

mareli — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:02:21 -0800

I've been aware of Smalls for a few years, since I started working in Beaufort County, SC. (I may be the only mefite working in this county.) I've always read his mother's name as sounding like Politay, Italian, or something Latin. According to one white pages source there are at least a hundred people in SC with that last name.