On the night of 17 July 1944, two transport vessels loading ammunition at the Port Chicago, California naval base were suddenly engulfed in a massive explosion. The blast destroyed everything within a one-mile radius, including the two ships, the pier and the dock. It killed 320 men on the base, and injured nearly 400 more, most of whom were black. Also almost completely destroying the town of Port Chicago 1.5 miles away, it was the worst home-front military disaster of World War II.

Afterward, a group of surviving enlistees refused to load munitions again until they could be assured of the safety of their working conditions. The Navy court-martialed 50 of these men for mutiny, and dishonorably discharged them. All were imprisoned, though President Truman commuted their sentences after the war was over.

Today, a campaign is underway to bring national attention to the Port Chicago tragedy, and to clear the names of those who stood up against unfair conditions. These black sailors served their country with pride and honor during World War II, and deserve to to be recognized for their contributions.

We urge you to help bring to light one of America's darkest and long forgotten secrets. This site is jointly produced by The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center and Revelations Entertainment. It contains personal profiles of the remaining survivors of the blast and mutiny, as well as a complete history of the explosion and its aftermath. But even more important are educational materials for teachers & students, and opportunities for you to join the campaign for justice.