The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

In The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights, historian Steve Sheinkin traces the story of the Port Chicago 50, a group of African-American sailors charged with mutiny for disobeying orders during World War II. Sheinkin’s history opens, however, with the story of Dorie Miller, a black mess attendant stationed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attack in 1942. Though not trained for battle, Miller courageously begins fighting with an anti-aircraft gun, earning a Navy Cross for his bravery. Yet, the US Navy’s policy of segregation means that Miller can only return to work as a mess attendant, despite his heroism.

The US military’s segregationist policies trace back to the Revolutionary Army. Such policies are fueled by fears that armed AfricanAmericans will revolt against the slave owners, as well as racist beliefs that AfricanAmericans are less skilled than white people. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US enters World War II, and, in the process, begins accepting more black recruits to both the Navy and the Army. Many AfricanAmericans enlist, proud to serve their country and hopeful that they can prove that AfricanAmericans are just as capable as whites. Despite this progress, the military remains segregated, and black soldiers and sailors are often treated poorly by their white counterparts.