If you had to go to prison for standing up against yourself, you would probably feel frustrated or angry. That was what it was like for 50 men on July 14, 1944. They stood up for themselves by not returning to their job of reloading ammunition after an explosion, that happened in Port Chicago. They were later convicted of mutiny. When Pearl Harbor declared war on Japan, the mutinous trials were considered minor.
Starting with a BOOM
Boom! The sound of an explosion rips through the air as the naval munitions bunker at Port Chicago, CA, blows up killing 320 men. The explosion leads to a mutiny caused by unsafe work conditions. It was first believed that the Japanese were attacking. On August 9th, all the surviving men were ordered to return to their duties. Fifty men later questioned the order.
Boom! The sound of an explosion rips through the air as the naval munitions bunker at Port Chicago, CA, blows up killing 320 men. The explosion leads to a mutiny caused by unsafe work conditions. It was first believed that the Japanese were attacking. On August 9th, all the surviving men were ordered to return to their duties. Fifty men later questioned the order.
A Fight For Rights
The remaining men were ordered to return to their posts reloading ammunition. There were 258 who were ordered to return to their posts to reload ammunition. In all, 208 men willingly returned to their posts and returned to their assigned work reloading ammunition. But 50 men resisted. They were later convicted . The 50 men argued that the conditions they were told to work in were too dangerous. But the captain refused to call of the order, causing the workmen to go on a so called strike.
The remaining men were ordered to return to their posts reloading ammunition. There were 258 who were ordered to return to their posts to reload ammunition. In all, 208 men willingly returned to their posts and returned to their assigned work reloading ammunition. But 50 men resisted. They were later convicted . The 50 men argued that the conditions they were told to work in were too dangerous. But the captain refused to call of the order, causing the workmen to go on a so called strike.
Unreformed Treatment
Even 80 years after the 13th amendment, African Americans were unfairly forced to do extremely dangerous work. They were forced to load ammunition into a bunker. Even after the place was bombed. It was extremely unfair that they were paid only a little bit and still did the work that was most dangerous. It was not only at Port Chicago, many navy units that segregated whites and blacks. The navy rarely took black generals. Even when they did, the generals were assigned to black only units. At Port Chicago during the time of the disaster there were 1,400 black enlisted men, 71 officers, 106 marine guards, and 230 civilian employees in the Navy.
Even 80 years after the 13th amendment, African Americans were unfairly forced to do extremely dangerous work. They were forced to load ammunition into a bunker. Even after the place was bombed. It was extremely unfair that they were paid only a little bit and still did the work that was most dangerous. It was not only at Port Chicago, many navy units that segregated whites and blacks. The navy rarely took black generals. Even when they did, the generals were assigned to black only units. At Port Chicago during the time of the disaster there were 1,400 black enlisted men, 71 officers, 106 marine guards, and 230 civilian employees in the Navy.
Convicts Voices
“Everything we’ve gotten, we’ve fought and suffered for.” said Martin bordenave. “You gotta holler loud, you know.” This is the thoughts of one of the 50 men accused of mutiny at Port Chicago. Joe Small was the rebellious leader who questioned if he would return to work. He believed he was speaking out and doing the right thing. Even if it meant getting convicted of mutiny. Joe Small was the most prominent of the 50 men but there were multiple other leaders who took part of the rebellion. All 50 believed they were doing the right thing.
“Everything we’ve gotten, we’ve fought and suffered for.” said Martin bordenave. “You gotta holler loud, you know.” This is the thoughts of one of the 50 men accused of mutiny at Port Chicago. Joe Small was the rebellious leader who questioned if he would return to work. He believed he was speaking out and doing the right thing. Even if it meant getting convicted of mutiny. Joe Small was the most prominent of the 50 men but there were multiple other leaders who took part of the rebellion. All 50 believed they were doing the right thing.
Grieving Aftermath
In 1994, The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Museum was dedicated to those who lost their lives on that fatal day. It was designed and maintained by the National Parks Service. Congress ordered NPS to manage the memorial after Congress passed a bill in 2007. This memorial holds a military base which is currently active. Visitors are allowed 90 minutes a visit.
In 1994, The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Museum was dedicated to those who lost their lives on that fatal day. It was designed and maintained by the National Parks Service. Congress ordered NPS to manage the memorial after Congress passed a bill in 2007. This memorial holds a military base which is currently active. Visitors are allowed 90 minutes a visit.
Current Implication:
The Port Chicago 50 relates to society today because in the 1960s, African Americans were arrested for standing up to themselves. However, they continued to speak up for themselves and continued marching. They also began The Montgomery Bus Boycott. This started mainly because African Americans were mistreated on the bus. This was not even the most current. Right now things like the Baltimore riots are examples of mild segregation compared to what happened in our nation’s past.
The Port Chicago 50 relates to society today because in the 1960s, African Americans were arrested for standing up to themselves. However, they continued to speak up for themselves and continued marching. They also began The Montgomery Bus Boycott. This started mainly because African Americans were mistreated on the bus. This was not even the most current. Right now things like the Baltimore riots are examples of mild segregation compared to what happened in our nation’s past.