Sen. Tim Scott participates in fireside chat on the legacy of Robert Smalls at Fort Moultrie

CHARLESTON, S.C. - This weekend, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) co-hosted The Faith and Politics Institute's Annual Pilgrimage in Charleston, South Carolina alongside Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06). Sen. Scott participated in a fireside chat reflecting on the life and legacy of Robert Smalls against the historic backdrop of Fort Moultrie. The event followed a brief tour of the fort and brought together more than 200 participants, including several Members of Congress.

The conversation, titled "The Greatness of this Country That Produced Robert Smalls," featured historian Bernard Powers of the College of Charleston and was moderated by Robert Traynham of the Faith and Politics Institute. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, this year's congressional pilgrimage offered Members of Congress and leaders a powerful opportunity for reflection and growth.

"Standing in Charleston, where Robert Smalls sailed himself from slavery to freedom, reminded all of us that the promise of America is not just a place, it is an idea, a story, and a people. The Faith and Politics Pilgrimage brought Members of Congress and our communities together across every difference to wrestle honestly with that story, and to recommit ourselves to the more perfect union it demands of us," said Sen. Scott.

"It was my pleasure to welcome my Congressional colleagues, partners, and community members to the 2026 Faith and Politics Institutes' Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage. As we came together in my home state of South Carolina, I was inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he intoned: 'We must keep moving. If you can't fly, run; if you can't run, walk; crawl; but by all means keep moving,'" said Rep. Clyburn. "Movement defines the American story which encompasses African American history in which this state has played a pivotal and powerful role. South Carolina is inextricably linked to the struggles as well as the achievements of our great nation. During this pilgrimage, we recognize and properly honored the past, but also acknowledged the present and embraced opportunities for positive change."

"Hosting this bipartisan pilgrimage in Charleston was both a privilege and a responsibility," said Robert Traynham, president, Faith & Politics Institute. "As we reflected on the theme One Country, One Destiny, we were reminded that understanding our history, especially in places as consequential as Charleston, is essential to building a more perfect union."

Born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, Smalls famously commandeered the Confederate transport ship Planter in 1862 and delivered it to Union forces, securing freedom for himself and others aboard. He later served with distinction in the Union Navy before representing South Carolina's Lowcountry in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Participants gathered to reflect on Smalls' legacy and the enduring lessons his life offers about leadership, perseverance, and the ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union.

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