This week we're yappin' about a significant & influential figure in South Carolina & US history. He was one of the most prominent & famous people of his time, but I’m going to guess that you’ve never heard of him. He was the first Black captain in the US Navy in Dec 1863, having only escaped from slavery a year & a half prior. After the Civil War, he was one of the first Black South Carolina state legislators in 1868 & then was elected to the South Carolina Senate 1870. And then was Elected to represent South Carolina as a US congressman Nov 1874 & would end up serving 5 terms.His escape from enslavement was legendary in the North and led to the Confederates putting out a $2000 bounty on him, which would be around $64k today. Soooo…do you know who I’m talking about? Well, I’m proud of you for knowing your US history if you said Robert Smalls & if you didn’t know, it’ll be my pleasure to tell you about the incredible life of Robert Smalls.CONNECT:Instagram: @yappinabouthistorypod

TikTok: @yappinabouthistorypod

Email me: [email protected]SOURCES:

-Be Free or Die by Cate Lineberry

-The First Eight by Jim Clyburn

-War Declared: states secede from the union! https://tinyurl.com/4s9jybta

-bleeding Kansas: https://tinyurl.com/p7tw9dwk

-History of Colored Troops: https://tinyurl.com/377x97pk

-Robert Smalls: https://tinyurl.com/pm6rwxys

-port royal experiment: https://tinyurl.com/4zt78xaz

-Black leaders during reconstruction: https://tinyurl.com/mue4rur8

-Robert Smalls Legacy Foundation: https://tinyurl.com/3dd69mnf