Black History Month Presentation: Port Chicago
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Black History Month Presentation: Port Chicago
February 17 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Note: Due to a large memorial event happening on the ship on this same date, the general public will not be allowed onto the ship until 11 AM. The presentation will start at 11:30 or so (after people have gathered) instead of right at 11. Thank you for understanding.
Please join us in the Wardroom for a presentation about the Port Chicago disaster in World War II. The presentation will be given by the National Park Service and will be followed by a tour of the African Americans in the Military exhibit.
Presentation:
The story of Port Chicago is one that is not well known, a hidden piece of important history.
During World War II, 202 African American sailors lost their lives while loading ammunition for the war efforts in the Pacific Theatre in a massive explosion in the East Bay.
320 total died that day in the biggest loss of life on the Homefront during the war.
328 African American sailors who were at the Base when this disaster happened were ordered to go back to work and 50 refused and were convicted of mutiny and sentence to prison where they remained for the rest of the war.
Come here how this story is a civil rights story and what happened to this story and men and why we should remember it to make us a better country in the future.
Presenter:
Eric Stearns has worked for the National Park Service for over 20 years at 15 different NPS sites, mostly in the Bay Area. Currently, he is working at the Four Parks in the East Bay which includes- Port Chicago, John Muir House, Rosie the Riveter, and Eugene O’Neill House. He has been sharing this story about Port Chicago with the public for many years.
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