For Immediate Release By Levine-Oliver Publisher, Inc.!
“CHOOSING LIFE” A BOOK REVIEW OF “BE FREE OR DIE: THE AMAZING STORY OF ROBERT SMALLS’ ESCAPE FROM SLAVERY TO UNION HERO” BY AGNES B. LEVINE
By Cate Lineberry
Copyright 2017©
St. Martin’s Press
The book, “Be Free Or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls’ Escape From Slavery To Union Hero” by Cate Lineberry is a great book for the layperson to get on the ship, the Planter, with Gullah born Robert Smalls and experience escaping the Confederates and arriving in the hands of the Union as free men, women, and children. The reader can feel the women celebrate by singing worship songs and the excitement that they had finally made it – they were free! These women kept prayer watch as the men in the crew maintained the ship and arsenal while fighting their way to freedom following every expert command of the Captain, Robert Smalls who was a Gullah African-American.
Freedom was more than simply turning the Planter ship and crew over to the Union Military. Freedom presented the opportunity for Robert Smalls to rise to fame and leadership. Robert Smalls’ life then started on a political journey with him speaking as a politician and taking the dark reality of slavery to those positioned to help. He became known throughout the country as the Gullah Statesman.
In addition, Robert Smalls earned the recognition as a Royal King in his Beaufort, South Carolina community. He smartly allowed wiser men to invest his prize money from the Planter and that investment sustained him economically. That investment also enabled him to own both his house and several others. Robert Smalls became a successful entrepreneur and was able to provide a formal education for his offspring.
Robert Smalls quickly learned to use his charisma and sense of humor keenly to make up for his lack of a formal education. His strong faith in helping others achieve better opportunities kept him fearless as he was constantly hunted by angry confederates who resented the fact that he piloted the Confederates’ ship, the Planter, and turned it over to the Union.
What I like best about, “Be Free Or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls’ Escape From Slavery To Union Hero,” is that Robert Smalls accomplished opening a school for all black children and actually won his case in the highest court in the land, the United States Supreme Court. That SCOTUS victory allowed Robert Smalls to retain his right as a land owner of his former Master’s Prince Street home that Robert purchased at a tax auction.
Lastly, this book is a truly great read for Black History 365. The Author does an excellent job highlighting how important citizenship is for everyone. Political students will enjoy this book, too!
Purchase your very own copy of, “Be Free Or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls’ Escape From Slavery To Union Hero” by Cate Lineberry today at:
https://www.amazon.com/Be-Free-Die-Amazing... Royal Monarch Queen Agnes B. Levine -
Chieftess of Gullah-Geechee Nation
Posted By: agnes levine
Monday, September 3rd 2018 at 10:16AM
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