A daily Black History Month fact that has nothing to do with George Washington Carver, MLK, Jr., or Harriet Tubman. Promise!
Here's one South Carolinian who would no doubt be thrilled that in 2008, the people in his state have yet to relinquish the Confederate flag. Robert Smalls was born a slave in 1839, and as an adult, who worked on a Confederate steamer based out of the Charleston Harbor called the Planter. Once the war started, Smalls hatched a plan to take over the Steamer with a group of 12 other slaves. On the morning of May 13, 1862, Smalls smuggled his wife and children aboard the ship and took command with the rest of his crew. They waved the Confederate Flag until they reached the Union waters, where they turned the ship over as contraband. Smalls and his crew were honored by Lincoln. The former slave became became a captain in the U.S. Navy, and officially commanded the Planter throughout the Civil War.

During Reconstruction, Smalls returned to South Carolina and served in the state senate from 1868-1870. In 1875 he was election to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served for five terms and fought for equal travel accommodations for blacks and for the rights of children of mixed race.

He died in 1916.

This concludes your daily does of BHM.

*Feel free to send me your black history month suggestions at lauren AT stereohyped.com. Thanks!