At 12, Robert Smalls’ enslaver, Mr. McKee, hired him out for jobs. Eventually, Smalls convinced McKee to let him keep some of the money.
After a lifetime of labor, Smalls saved enough to purchase his family’s freedom – but was denied! He realized he’d never get free playing by the rules. So he got creative.
In 1861, Smalls was ordered to serve on a Confederate ship – and immediately began planning. One night, Smalls and other enslaved men were left to guard the ship.
Captained by Smalls, they set the ship loose and sailed away without hesitation! They picked up Smalls’ family and other runaways along the way.
Smalls donned a captain's hat, steering the ship through Confederate checkpoints, like Fort Sumter, where he provided codes needed to pass through undetected.
Finally clearing Confederate waters, Smalls steered them towards a Union Army blockade. Hopefully they wouldn’t get shot!
In exchange for their passage to land – FREE LAND – Smalls surrendered the ship, including charts, maps, and naval code books, giving the Union an advantage over the Confederacy. But he wasn’t done yet.
Smalls had a storied career after the Civil War, including becoming one of the first Black members of the U.S. Congress!
He showed that playing by racist rules isn’t the only way to get free – Innovation and determination are sometimes essential.