Smalls Statue Honors Black Civil War Hero | JQJO

A statue of Robert Smalls, a Black Civil War hero and South Carolina lawmaker, will be erected at the South Carolina State House. Sculpted by Basil Watson, it will be the first monument to an African American on the grounds. Smalls famously escaped slavery by seizing a Confederate ship and later served as a Union naval officer. The statue symbolizes his journey from illiteracy to a pioneering statesman, representing a significant step towards a more inclusive historical narrative.