5. Black History Hero

Feb 26, 2025

Discover the extraordinary journey of Robert Smalls, a Civil War hero who transformed from an enslaved man to a naval captain. Explore the deep roots of American exceptionalism and white supremacy, and how events like Bacon's Rebellion shaped racial hierarchy. Delve into Smalls' daring escape from Confederate forces and his groundbreaking civil rights activism, including a streetcar boycott. Reflect on the legacy of hidden Black history and the significance of recognizing overlooked heroes in the struggle for equality.

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INSIGHT

From Slave To Civil War Hero

Robert Smalls rose from enslaved laborer to Union ship pilot, captain, civil rights activist, and U.S. congressman.
His intimate harbor knowledge and bravery directly aided the Union and advanced Black political power during Reconstruction.

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Monte Mader urges listeners to support his Patreon to access an extra episode on the Orangeburg Massacre.
He uses Patreon funds to expand research and produce more in-depth historical episodes.

INSIGHT

American Exceptionalism Requires Whitewashing

Christian nationalism protects American exceptionalism by downplaying slavery and racism.
Monte Mader argues this whitewashing prevents confronting historical injustices and maintains power structures.

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Have you heard of Civil War hero Robert Smalls? We will today! Today we'll cover how American exceptionalism contributes to white supremacy, its foundation in the colonies, and the amazing true story of enslaved man turned war hero Robert Smalls!

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Sources:

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The National Park Service. “Bacon’s Rebellion (1676).”
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Morgan, Edmund S.American Slavery, American Freedom: The Ordeal of Colonial Virginia. W.W. Norton & Company, 1975.
Rice, James D.Tales from a Revolution: Bacon’s Rebellion and the Transformation of Early America. Oxford University Press, 2012.
Washburn, Wilcomb E.The Governor and the Rebel: A History of Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia. University of North Carolina Press, 1957.
Horn, James.A Land As God Made It: Jamestown and the Birth of America. Basic Books, 2005.
Billings, Warren M.The Old Dominion in the Seventeenth Century: A Documentary History of Virginia, 1606-1689. University of North Carolina Press, 2009.
The National Park Service.“Bacon’s Rebellion (1676).”
Library of Congress.“Bacon’s Rebellion: A Virginia Turning Point.”
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Lineberry, Cate, Be free or die: the Amazing Story of Robert Smalls Escape from Slavery to Union War Hero, 2018