July 1944
Events
- July 17, 1944Port Chicago Explosion: 320 Men Killed, 202 Black Sailors
On July 17, 1944, an explosion at Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California kills 320 men, 202 of them Black enlisted men who did nearly all the dangerous ammunition loading under white officers. Black sailors had complained for months about unsafe conditions and officers betting on which divisions could load fastest. The explosion is the deadliest home-front disaster of WWII and disproportionately devastates the Black enlisted workforce.
- July 17, 1944Black Sailors Forced to Load Munitions in Segregated Conditions
At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, Black enlisted men were ordered to load munitions under dangerous conditions with no safety training while white officers bet on which crew would load fastest. An explosion killed 320 men — 202 of them Black. When survivors refused to return to the same conditions, 50 were court-martialed for mutiny.
- July 17, 1944Port Chicago Explosion Kills 202 Black Sailors; 50 Court-Martialed for Mutiny
At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, Black enlisted men were ordered to load munitions under dangerous conditions with no safety training while white officers bet on loading speed. An explosion killed 320 men — 202 of them Black. When survivors refused to return to the same conditions, 50 were court-martialed for mutiny.