Robert Small Elected to SC Hall of Fame: What's the NAACP to Do?

January 26th Beaufort (SC) Gazette.

Civil War hero and Beaufort native Robert Smalls will be joining the South Carolina Hall of Fame almost 150 years after he and a group of other slaves seized the Confederate steamer CSS Planter in Charleston Harbor and sailed it out to surrender to the Union blockading fleet.

Former South Carolina Governor Richard Riley will also be joining the hall of fame.

The ceremony will be February 9th at the Myrtle Beach, SC, Convention Center.


WHAT TO DO?

This is where the problem comes in. The NAACP has fought a long battle to have the Confederate flag removed from state capitol grounds. They succeeded in getting it down from the dome, but still are incensed that it flies on the grounds.

To show their displeasure, they have called for a boycott of all conventions and business with South Carolina.

Since Robert Smalls was a black man, you would have to figure they would attend the event. But, it is happening at a convention site in the state they boycott.

It will be interesting to see what they do.

Attend or Boycott. I Say Attend. The Man's Courage and Bravery Would Make It Imperative to Do So. --Old B-Runner