Freedom isn’t free.

Perhaps you’ve heard that before. If you grew up in the United States, you’ve certainly heard that said once or twice in your lifetime. Hell, maybe you’ve said it.

Freedom isn’t free.

Have you ever really thought about that phrase? It has a nice ring to it, but what does it mean exactly?

Freedom isn’t free.

In the United States, we often celebrate the Fourth of July as our Independence Day. We proclaimed our independence from Great Britain and, from that day forward, the rebellion became a revolution with a purpose: freedom from the crown.

July 4th, 1776 is not actually the day freedom was achieved, however. September 3rd, 1783 was the day Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which recognized and granted the Thirteen Colonies their independence after their eight-year-long fight for freedom. Even then, it wouldn’t be ratified until May 12, 1784, which is over nine years removed from the Battles of Concord and Lexington.

Freedom isn’t free.

But with all that being said, none of those dates actually represent “freedom” in its purest, most unadulterated form. That day is June 19th, 1865. 160 years ago today.

Now this is not an article about Juneteenth. This is an article posted on the date of Juneteenth to drive home the point of the article.

Freedom isn’t free.

The American Civil War is the United States of America’s defining tragedy of the 19th century. Brother versus brother, bloodshed and battles to maintain bondage. While I do believe it is fascinating to research the War Between the States, I also find very little honor in the conflict. I find it more tragic than anything else.

But in the American Civil War, comes a story of a man so remarkable, so brave, that I can’t help but marvel in awe when I think about it.

This is about Robert Smalls, the man who was born a slave and sailed his way to freedom.

Freedom isn’t free.

Robert Smalls was born in a cabin behind his slavemaster’s house at 511 Prince Street in Beaufort, South Carolina. At age 12, he was sent to Charleston to labor. It was there that he was introduced to working on the docks and wharves, where after years of work, the still-enslaved Smalls became a wheelman (a helmsman without the proper title) of the CSS Planter.

Robert Smalls would gain invaluable experience that would directly benefit him on what would be the most important day of his life: May 12th, 1862.

Freedom isn’t free.

Smalls, having spent his time studying the Captain’s signals and mannerisms, hatched a plan to escape. Then, on the night of May 12th, the ship’s white crew left Smalls and other slaves in charge while the crew spent the night ashore.

Smalls, knowing this would be the opportunity, asked if the families of the slaves could visit while the crew was ashore. With that permission granted, the life or death plan went into action.

Robert Smalls, when the time became opportune, disguised himself in the Captain’s clothing and hat, mimicking his mannerisms and signals. Having been able to pass not one, but four checkpoints, Smalls, the other enslaved people and their families sailed toward the Union blockade. Still flying high on the Planter, they removed the Confederate flag and replaced it with a white bedsheet; this crew of Pirates had successfully sailed their way to freedom.

“I am delivering this war material including these cannons and I think [President] Lincoln can put them to good use,” is reportedly the words uttered by Smalls upon the surrender of the ship.

Freedom isn’t free.

For Smalls and the families he helped escape that night, freedom had come. But freedom in this country was not accomplished with men and women still in bondage; and for Smalls: the fight wasn’t over yet either.

For his bravery and deliverance of the CSS Planter, Robert Smalls was named the first black Captain of the US Navy, became an overnight sensation in the Union and a pariah in the Confederacy. The bounty on the life of Robert Smalls from the Richmond government nearly half of what the D.C. government valued the Planter at.

During the war, Smalls would captain the now USS Planter in battle against the Confederacy. The man who was sent to involuntary service and bondage aboard this ship was now the man commanding it.

It was Smalls and his actions that convinced Lincoln to allow freedmen to fight for the Union cause. If the North’s purpose was to maintain the Union when the war first broke out, it was the actions of Smalls and the bravery of many free black soldiers that turned the purpose of the war into preserving the Union and abolishing slavery where it remained.

It was on New Year’s Day, January 1st, 1863, did President Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved peoples within the rebelling states to be free. But that news didn’t reach everyone quite as quick.

It wouldn’t be until June 19th, 1865, 160 years ago today, that the final people in bondage were told about their freedom. It would be June 19th that marked the day that, finally, 90 years removed from the Revolution against Great Britain could it be stated: All citizens are free.

Freedom isn’t free.

The United States Pirate Party, as part of our platform, advocates for self-determination. As outlined in our platform: “We advocate for the right to free association and self-determination. People living in a political entity should have the right to maintain, alter or conclude their relationship to larger entities, or join in union, if it is the will of the people.”

People have asked members of the party how they feel about the confederacy when this point is brought up, asking if we would support their calls and desire for secession.

The answer is “no”.

The CSA was a slaver nation. So long as folks were held in bondage, then “people living in a political entity” doesn’t apply to all people of the Confederacy, and thus the CSA is not something the US Pirate Party supports. We support the will of the people.

What Robert Smalls did, not only for himself and the people he saved, is nothing short of heroic. The Union was the freedom that wouldn’t come free, and Smalls sailed straight to it. People look back on the Civil War and remember the heroes of the Union Army and occasionally get caught up in the Grants or Shermans or some might focus on the Lees or Jacksons. But today, on the day that marks freedom for all of us in the United States, we remember Captain Smalls.

Robert Smalls would go on to become one of the most important and influential politicians of the Reconstruction era and in South Carolina. He would return to Beaufort to purchase his new home: 511 Prince Street. The home he was once a slave in was now the home he owned.

It is on this day we should take the time to remember that freedom, something that we associate with the United States, wasn’t simply granted to us on the July 4th, 1776. It is important to remember not everyone was freed on New Year’s Day, 1863. It is today, June 19th, that deserves the name “Freedom Day”.

So in honor of Robert Smalls, his bravery and the struggles many in this country had to face just to be considered free citizens, we must not only remember, but never forget.

Freedom isn’t free.

uspirates.org/through-the-spyg…