(Columbia, SC) – The Robert Smalls Monument Commission has unanimously approved a proposal to place a statue of Black Civil War hero and statesman Robert Smalls on the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse. The statue will be positioned to face a monument of white supremacist Ben Tillman, a symbolic reminder of Smalls’ lifelong struggle for equality against forces seeking to erase the progress he championed.
The statue, designed by acclaimed sculptor Basil Watson, will depict Smalls in a tuxedo, representing his role as a U.S. Congressman at the height of his influence. This design was chosen to align with other figures memorialized at the Statehouse, including George Washington, Strom Thurmond, and Wade Hampton.
Born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, Smalls became a national hero during the Civil War. In 1862, he commandeered a Confederate vessel, sailing it to freedom with his family and other enslaved individuals on board. Smalls later served in both the South Carolina House and Senate before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he played a pivotal role in expanding civil rights during Reconstruction.
His statue will be placed along a walkway heavily trafficked by school groups visiting the Statehouse, offering an educational opportunity to inspire younger generations with Smalls’ remarkable legacy.
State Representatives Brandon Cox (R) and Jermaine Johnson (D), key figures behind the effort, visited the statue’s proposed site together following the commission’s decision. Overcome with emotion, the two lawmakers embraced in a moment Cox described as a true reflection of South Carolina’s progress.
“We’re sitting here making history together as Black, white, tall, short, Republican, Democrat — it’s an amazing thing,” said Johnson.
“This is South Carolina right here,” added Cox.
The monument’s base will include details of Smalls’ life along with a powerful quote from Smalls in 1895, as he resisted efforts by Tillman and others to disenfranchise Black citizens:
“My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.”
The next step for the project involves General Assembly approval while fundraising efforts begin. The commission estimates it will take millions of dollars to complete the monument with the dignity and scale appropriate for Smalls’ legacy.
