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

Throughout The Port Chicago 50, Sheinkin often focuses on the stories of individual historical players, narrating the ways in which they become emboldened to combat racism. Though each of these individuals has their own highly unique path towards action, Sheinkin frequently highlights the struggles, questions, and doubts that accompany one’s growing awareness of discrimination and the resolve to stop it. 

In particular, Sheinkin often narrates the ways in which early experiences with racism can lead one to develop a deepened understanding of injustice. Sheinkin describes several childhood episodes for two of the most important characters in The Port Chicago 50, Joe Small and Thurgood Marshall. Both Small and Marshall encountered racial discrimination during their youth. In school, Small was frequently bullied by a small white student, who would call Small “Smokey”—drawing attention to the color of Small’s skin (28). Though the bully would frequently hide behind his stronger cousin to escape conflict, one day Small finds the bully on his own, and Small gives the bully “a good whipping” (28). In an episode that echoes Small’s bully, Marshall is called the “n-word” by a white man while trying to do his job as a deliveryman. Remembering his father, who told Marshall that he has a responsibility to fight anyone who uses the “n-word,” Marshall begins punching the white man, which leads to Marshall’s arrest. Rather than chastise Marshall for failing to do his job, Marshall’s boss tells him that he was right to standup for what is “right” (43). By describing both of these early stories, Sheinkin suggests that such initial encounters with discrimination can give one a resolve to fight against racism later in life.

However, Sheinkin also describes how it can be difficult to know the appropriate course of action for reacting to injustice. Sheinkin highlights this uncertainty when explaining Joe Small’s own doubts as to whether he should resist the order to load explosives. Following the Port Chicago disaster, Small and his fellow sailors are sent to Mare Island Naval Shipyard, where one day they are given work gloves used for loading explosives. Suspecting that they will soon be ordered to return to work, the sailors debate what to do. Sheinkin describes Small’s own internal doubts: “Small knew he was being treated unfairly by the Navy, but did that give him the right to disobey orders? […] could low-ranking sailors really defy the US Navy without expecting serious consequences?” (77). Small is deeply conflicted between his desire to follow his duty as a sailor and his awareness of the discriminatory treatment he is receiving. As Sheinkin emphasizes, the decision to fight injustice always involves a great deal of personal risk. Yet, in spite of such doubts, Small ultimately decides that refusing to perform unsafe work is the only right course of action.