During World War II, on July 17, 1944, a munitions ship exploded at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Concord, California. The blast killed 320 people, most of whom were Black American sailors. After the Port Chicago disaster, amidst racial discrimination in the military, surviving Black sailors were ordered to resume loading munitions despite safety concerns. When they refused due to the hazardous conditions and lack of training, 50 men were charged with mutiny, a serious offense punishable by death.
An attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, named Thurgood Marshall, recognized the significance of the case in highlighting systemic racism within the military. Marshall and his legal team took up the case of the Port Chicago 50, challenging the unfair treatment and segregation that led to their charges. Despite Marshall's advocacy the men were convicted. Serving more than a year in prison, their sentences were commuted after the war. But the convictions were allowed to stand to this day.
Learn more at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine
https://www.nps.gov/poch/index.htm
The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.
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The Port Chicago 50