Mutiny is a 1999 television drama film based on the story of the port chicago disaster during world war ii where 50 africanamerican sailors were accused of mutiny because they declined to continue loading munitions after an explosion caused by failures in training and management. This film centres on events that happened in 1944, in us naval bases at port chicago and mare island. In 1944, two ships blew up at the port chicago ammunition depot near san francisco, killing 300 men, 202 of whom were black. Clinton to pardon one of the few surviving convicted sailors in 1999. The first 100 pages are free and the remaining 1600 pages cost 15 cents each. An ammunition ship explodes in the port chicago disaster. Todays post covers the mutiny trial, and next week well look at the aftermath. Bryan and ss quinault victory were docked at the 1,200foot wooden pier at port chicago, about 30 miles north of oakland, california. In 1994 the port chicago naval magazine national memorial was dedicated to those who lost their lives in the disaster. Parents need to know that the port chicago 50 by steve sheinkin, author of bomb and lincolns grave robbers, deals directly with the history of segregation in america and demonstrates how africanamericans were separated from good jobs, housing, and other opportunities. Arthur kent hosts a look at how their actions changed the face of. This explosion killed hundreds of black sailors and.
Get info about the original print of port chicago mutiny, the, 1999, with arthur kent, arthur kent. The men cited the navys lack of care for their safety. Steve sheinkin is the awardwinning author of fastpaced, cinematic histories for young readers. Port chicago serves as a stark reminder of both the sacrifice of the brave. Fallout from port chicago blast movie examines 1944. Mutiny 1999 factbased story about 300 predominantly black sailors who were killed on july 17, 1944 while loading munitions on a ship in san francisco. They were being loaded with munitions desperately needed by the soldiers, pilots and sailors fighting the japanese in the south pacific. Clinton pardons wartime mutineer port chicago black. Navy who refused to return to loading ammunition after a. Mutiny is a 1999 television drama film based on the story of the port chicago disaster during world war ii where 50 africanamerican sailors were accused of mutiny because they declined to continue loading munitions after an explosion caused by failures. The cause is the mutiny at port chicago, an event calling out for a response.
The last survivor of port chicago blast, freddie meeks, was pardoned by president bill clinton in 1999, as part of a campaign to raise awareness about this chapter of world war ii history. Kron documentary, and then to a spate of other articles, movies and books. Prior to the civil rights movement, these men pioneered the desegregation of the military, demanding safe working conditions for africanamerican soldiers. Bomb was a newbery honor book and the port chicago 50 won the boston globehorn book award for nonfiction. Patriotism and a desire to help the war effort drove black men to enlist in the armed services, said robert allen, author of the definitive book about the disaster, the port chicago mutiny.
The rest of the port chicago 50 refused to ask for pardons because they. Jan 21, 2014 the port chicago 50 is the story of 50 africanamerican men accused of mutiny by the navy during world war ii. More than 50 years later, mccreary is once again involved in the port chicago story, this time as coexecutive producer, along with morgan freeman, of sunday nights twohour nbc movie mutiny. Port chicago disaster stuns the nation, 70 years ago 70 years after the worst home front disaster of world war ii, learn how an explosion at a california port sparked a. First published in 1989, the port chicago mutiny is a thorough and riveting work of civil rights literature, and with a new preface and epilogue by the author emphasize the events relevance today. After a horrific explosion at a navy base on san francisco bay, 200 surviving africanamerican seaman refused to. A large explosion rips through the port destoying a ammo ship, another ship and a large portion of the dock area. The navy never determined the cause of the port chicago explosion. Black sailors are treated terrible, and are doing the most dangerous work at this ammunition loading port. An ammunition ship explodes while being loaded in port chicago, california, killing 332 people on this day in 1944. On july 17, 1944, two munitions ships blew up at the port chicago ammunition depot near san fancisco. Clinton pardons wartime mutineer port chicago black sailor of 50 in infamous case carl nolte, chronicle staff writer published 4. On july 26, 1944, at port chicago, california, an explosion killed 320 men, 202 of whom were black.
Do you have the made for tv movie port chicago mutiny. Find movie and film cast and crew information for mutiny 1999 kevin hooks on allmovie. Disaster, mutiny, and the fight for civil rights steve sheinkin. The united states world war ii military campaign in the pacific was in full. Navy who refused to return to loading ammunition after a disastrous explosion at port chicago, california on july 17, 1944 that destroyed the liberty ship ss e. He is a threetime national book award finalist and twotime winner of the yalsa award for excellence in nonfiction. Nov 27, 2002 this film centres on events that happened in 1944, in us naval bases at port chicago and mare island. Aug 30, 2018 port chicago disaster stuns the nation, 70 years ago 70 years after the worst home front disaster of world war ii, learn how an explosion at a california port sparked a naval mutiny and led to an. More than 200 untrained men then refused to unload any more ammunition, leading to courtmartial. These things really happened, but the filmmakers are careful to point out that this film is a dramatisation, and only one character the naacp representation, thurgood marshall, played by joe morton is real. In the worst home front disaster of world war ii, an explosion at the naval magazine in port chicago, california on july 17, 1944 killed 320 men, of whom 202 were black. Three weeks later, 50 survivors were courtmartialed for refusing to load another shipment.
His other acclaimed books include the notorious benedict. Mar 27, 2011 the port chicago explosion and mutiny proved to be a pivotal point for the decision made within the navy to desegregate its ranks. Port chicago, a world war ii munitions transfer point in the san francisco bay area, was the site of tragedy on july 17, 1944, when an explosion killed 320 people and injured 390 more. There were 50 men, known as the port chicago 50 who were court martialed and convicted of mutiny and sentenced to prison. When work resumes, 50 black sailors refuse to return to. The port chicago 50 is a fascinating story of the prejudice and injustice that faced black men and women in americas armed forces during world war ii, and a nuanced look at those who gave their lives in service of a country where they lacked the most basic rights. Whereas, on the night of july 17, 1944, two transport vessels loading ammunition at the port chicago naval base on the sacramento river in california were suddenly engulfed in a gigantic explosion, the incredible blast of which wrecked the naval base and heavily damaged the town of port chicago, located 1. The port chicago 50 is the story of 50 africanamerican men accused of mutiny by the navy during world war ii. Mutiny is a 1999 television drama film based on the story of the port chicago disaster during world war ii where 50 africanamerican sailors. In december 1999, president clinton pardoned freddie meeks, one of only three of the 50 convicted sailors known to be alive at the time.
Mutiny 1999 directed by kevin hooks genres drama subgenres. Robert allen, author of the book the port chicago mutiny, says the navy used the mutiny trial as a diversion. Unfortunately, until i read this book, i had never heard of it. Remembering port chicago write me something beautiful. An ammunition ship explodes in the port chicago disaster history.
But few are left to call out and few interested in listening, including fishburnes bosses. In the case of the port chicago 50, freddie meeks received a presidential pardon in december 1999. Most of the dead and injured were enlisted africanamerican. With michael jai white, duane martin, david ramsey, matthew glave. The rest of the port chicago 50 refused to ask for pardons because they believed only the guilty need to ask for forgiveness. On july 17, 1944, a victory ship anchored at the port chicago munitions base near san francisco exploded, killing 323 men and injuring 390. However, the others were not pardoned because they had all either died since then or had not taken part in the pardon process. The late evening of july 17, 1944 was clear and warm.
It was the biggest home front disaster of world war ii. Factbased story about 300 predominantly black sailors who were killed on july 17, 1944 while loading munitions on a ship in san francisco. This sent ripples of change through the segregated armed forces. Mutiny is a 1999 television drama film based on the story of the port chicago disaster during world war ii where 50 africanamerican sailors were accused of. They are nearly slaves to their white officers and are living in the worst conditions. The port chicago mutiny involved african american enlisted men in the u. In 1994, a memorial was dedicated to those who lost their lives in the disaster. May 24, 2017 the last survivor of port chicago blast, freddie meeks, was pardoned by president bill clinton in 1999, as part of a campaign to raise awareness about this chapter of world war ii history. Find movie and film cast and crew information for mutiny 1999. In 1944, a victory ship exploded at the port chicago navy base near san francisco killing 320 and wounding hundreds more. On 26 july 1948, four years after the explosion at port chicago, president truman ordered the end of.
Munitions detonated while being loaded onto a cargo vessel bound for the pacific theater of operations, killing 320 sailors and civilians and injuring 390 others. The victims were mostly untrained africanamerican sailors, forced. Oct 24, 2011 previous blog posts discussed the situation in the armed forces and at port chicago, the explosion, and the work stoppage. Investigative journalist robert allen offers a gripping expose of the worst u. When they refused, fifty men were singled out and chargedand convictedof mutiny. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english an amistad book. Court martial records relating to the port chicago mutiny consist of 1700 pages of documents. Jul 28, 2019 an ammunition ship explodes while being loaded in port chicago, california, killing 332 people on this day in 1944. Jul 16, 2014 patriotism and a desire to help the war effort drove black men to enlist in the armed services, said robert allen, author of the definitive book about the disaster, the port chicago mutiny. The port chicago 50 were tried and convicted on charges of mutiny and sentenced to. Port chicago disaster stuns the nation, 70 years ago history. When 50 black ammunition loaders refused to return to work thought too dangerous for white sailors, they were convicted of mutiny.
A view of the wrecked pier after the explosion at port chicago. On august 9, 1944, 258 survivors of the explosion refused to load ammunition at mare island naval depot in vallejo, california. Allen put in years of research and wrote a book to bring this event, and the people involved, the quote history is written. This lesson goes into depth on only one of thosethe port chicago mutiny. Michael jai white, duane martin, david ramsey, matthew. Dec 27, 2016 mutiny 1999 tv movie documental ciencia. Arts and entertainment network history channel television network. Port chicago mutiny, the 1999 turner classic movies. Find info by keywords for port chicago mutiny, the, 1999, with arthur kent, arthur kent, belongs at turner classic movies. Port chicago mutiny unsolved mysteries wiki fandom. The port chicago disaster was a deadly munitions explosion that occurred on july 17, 1944, at the port chicago naval magazine in port chicago, california, united states. The name port chicago will forever carry with it the memory of the explosion that occurred on july 17 th, 1944. The port chicago mutiny was an incredibly important event in the history of the united states, the us navy, and in racial relations. Allen is the author of the port chicago mutiny amistad 1993 and coeditor of brotherman 35,000 hc net, which won the american book award.