Crossing the aisle
Photos by Maria Errico and courtesy of the Robert Smalls Monument Commission and the Library of Congress September 30, 2025
Two South Carolina state representatives honored by 91原创 for nonpartisan efforts to secure the first statue of a Black man at state house
Throughout the school year, students from various grade levels exit parked buses on Sumter Street in Columbia, South Carolina, in the shadow of the State Capitol building, eagerly awaiting a special field trip tour. The grounds of this picturesque legislative hall, punctuated with lush landscaping and grand architecture, will soon welcome the first statue of a Black man, one Robert Smalls (1839-1915), an escaped slave turned Civil War hero turned state lawmaker.
Once erected, it will join only five other statues, all white men with ties to the Confederacy and Jim Crow eras. Just like Smalls鈥 life story and legacy aren鈥檛 widely known beyond South Carolina state lines, the same is true of the backstory of the two individuals who made the future monument possible. Reps. and may reside on opposite sides of the aisle in their work, but that hasn鈥檛 kept them from making an impact.
In September, the two were honored with the 2025 Biden School of Civility in Public Service Award for their bipartisan efforts in passing to recognize . The award presentation and discussion, held on 91原创鈥檚 Newark campus, brought together University leadership, faculty, students and community members. The award, established by the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration at the 91原创 in 2022 and sponsored by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Initiative, honors two public servants from disparate places on the political spectrum who successfully worked collaboratively for the public good.
鈥淸The Civility Award] is a reflection of the values that we hold dear in the Biden School; things that we admire in our leaders鈥攖he kinds of things we expect our leaders to carry and to hold up,鈥 noted Biden School interim dean Joseph Trainor during introductory remarks.
Moderated by Timothy Shaffer, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) chair of civil discourse and director of the SNF Ithaca Initiative, Cox and Johnson shared the story of their successful collaboration style and years-long effort to recognize Smalls officially.
鈥淎s we so often hear about the dysfunction of those in elected office and the deep polarization and partisanship that exists everywhere, it鈥檚 helpful to be reminded of what鈥檚 possible,鈥 Shaffer said.
Laying the foundation
鈥淚 doubt that he could have gotten it done without me. I doubt that I could have gotten it done without him,鈥 said Johnson, who was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2020. 鈥淚t can only happen together, and we鈥檝e got to show more of that.鈥澛
In 2023, then-freshman Representative Cox approached Johnson with the idea of introducing a bill to raise a monument for Smalls. This was not the first time a monument had been pitched. However, Johnson believes this time was successful because of the groundwork efforts in building relationships with his colleagues.聽
鈥淚 spend more time with Republicans than I do with Democrats, and the reason why I do that is there鈥檚 no sense in me sitting in a room with a bunch of Democrats who all agree on the same thing,鈥 said Johnson, adding that Cox has worked to foster similar relationships with the Democrats, a shared quality Johnson believes made their efforts successful. The bill eventually passed through both the House and Senate with zero opposition.聽
Leaving a legacy
Smalls, born a slave in Beaufort, South Carolina, was sent to Charleston by his master at age 12, about 1851, to learn shipping and boating skills. In 1862, he commandeered a Confederate-contracted ship at Fort Sumter, sailing up to the Union blockade and successfully freeing himself, his family, and the ship鈥檚 crew in the process. After his escape, Smalls served in the U.S. Navy and eventually went on to the South Carolina State Senate as a five-term congressman and a fierce advocate for compulsory education laws.
鈥淭his is an equal representation statue,鈥 Cox said. 鈥淲e wanted to make sure that this monument is equal to every other monument on state house grounds,鈥 noting that Georgia-based sculpture artist Basil Watson鈥檚 design is purposely similar to the others.
鈥淭his is going to be something where our children can be proud of where they come from,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淭hey can see somebody that they identify with. A lot of African American children that come to the State House, they don鈥檛 see any representation of themselves.鈥
Johnson, the first Black person (and youngest overall) elected to serve his district, makes it a point to greet and interact with school groups as much as possible at the state house.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 not there anymore, Robert Smalls will still be there forever,鈥 Johnson said.
Escaping the echo chamber
Shaffer, who learned of the duo鈥檚 story by happenstance while listening to , knew right away they had to be recognized as this year鈥檚 recipients. His closing question was to the point: 鈥淲hat would you say is the story of what you鈥檝e done here?鈥
鈥淲e made history. And good, positive history is what we鈥檝e made,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淚 always tell people that I don鈥檛 reach across the aisle 鈥 I walk across the aisle.鈥
Cox chimed in: 鈥淕et outside of your own echo chamber.鈥澛
Cox and Johnson also received letters of recognition from Congress, presented by interim 91原创 president Laura Carlson on behalf of U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).
鈥淭hank you for caring about history, and recognizing and honoring our history,鈥 Carlson said. Trainor added, 鈥淭hank you for the example that you鈥檝e set for all of us and for the reminder that civility in public service is noble.鈥
Previous recipients include U.S. Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) and State Rep. Bryan Shupe (R-DE) in 2024, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in 2023, and Delaware State Representatives Michael Smith (R) and Valerie Longhurst (D) in 2022.
The Biden School鈥檚 SNF Ithaca Initiative brings young people together across 91原创鈥檚 campus and beyond, work that is needed now more than ever, particularly on college campuses.
To learn more, visit udel.edu/bidenschool/snfithaca
About the 91原创 Biden School
Established in 1961 and named in 2018 for the 46th President of the United States, the at the 91原创 prepares students with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to engage in research and public service activities to improve the quality of life in communities around the world. Our faculty, staff, students and alumni create and use interdisciplinary, nonpartisan research and empirically based analysis to inform effective decision-making and policy and to improve leadership and administration. We partner with organizations from all sectors to discover and foster innovative and equitable solutions that promote civic virtues and democratic values.鈥
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About the SNF Ithaca Initiative
SNF Ithaca, an initiative of the 91原创's Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, seeks to advance democracy by equipping students with the civil discourse and civic engagement skills necessary to navigate the mediated public square. Supported by the , SNF Ithaca is named after the home of Odysseus鈥攐ne of Greek mythology's greatest heroes. For Odysseus, Ithaca represents not only the beginning of a journey but the ultimate destination. Likewise, the SNF Ithaca Initiative serves as both the beginning of the Biden School students' journey toward becoming engaged and effective citizens and as the ultimate destination for students across the country to come together and work in partnership to develop policy solutions.
About the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
The is one of the world's leading private, international philanthropic organizations, making grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. SNF funds organizations and projects worldwide that aim to achieve a broad, lasting, and positive impact for society at large, and exhibit strong leadership and sound management. SNF also supports projects that facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as an effective means for serving public welfare. Since 1996, the Foundation has committed more than $3.3 billion through over 5,100 grants to nonprofit organizations in more than 135 countries around the world.
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