Robert Smalls was an extraordinary figure in American history, born into slavery in South Carolina in 1839. Despite the challenges he faced as a slave, he was able to learn how to read and write and eventually became a skilled sailor and boat pilot. In 1862, he seized an opportunity to escape slavery by commandeering a Confederate ship, the Planter, and sailing it to Union territory with his family and other enslaved people on board. This daring act earned him fame and recognition, and he went on to become a Union hero and later served as a congressman in South Carolina during Reconstruction, fighting for civil rights and social justice. Smalls' life is a testament to the power of courage, determination, and resilience in the face of oppression and adversity
