Separate and Inequal: Black American Sailors in WWII
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Category
Social Sciences/Humanities
Abstract/Artist Statement
2022 GradCon Proposal
Separate and Inequal: Black American Sailors in WWII
Scholars and historians consider the United States military as being at the forefront of racial integration. Military service is supposed to be the ultimate example of citizens banding together for the common defense of the country. While there are many examples of the military creating a sense of racial equality throughout the two hundred plus years of the US, WWII gave light to racism and discriminatory practices in the US Navy. The events surrounding the explosion at the Navy base at Port Chicago, California on July 17, 1944 showed how the military acted contrary to its perceived reputation of inclusion by creating a hierarchy within the established military hierarchy. The events and practices placed the needs of the military ahead of the lives required of the personnel to maintain the mobilization and support systems for WWII through Port Chicago’s officers, training, safety culture, and view of Black American sailors.
Racism and discrimination are part of the complex history of Black Americans in the US and military. Shown by training records, government documents, and the pre-war careers of some of the key people involved in the conditions prior to the explosion. These sources show that Port Chicago had an environment of discrimination and almost criminal disregard for the lives of Black sailors. In the past, Port Chicago and events showing discrimination have focused primarily on the first-hand survivor accounts of those directly affected. In contrast, this paper will look at the both the larger picture of how Black sailors died as a result of decisions made by the Navy to satisfy the immediate needs of war with safety and equality as distant if not ignored factors.
In consideration of looking beyond the discipline of history, this paper will engage a wide audience by showing how popular opinion misperceives the military as being progressive in race relations. The conclusions drawn show that the macabre business of making war abroad came at a domestic cost, the trust of Black Americans. A deeper understanding of the duality of the experiences faced by Black Americans, we as a society can continue to see why there is mistrust that the government acts in the best interest of all citizens regardless of race. This paper looks into the crucible of race relations in the US through the lens of the military to show how those who volunteered for service faced unknown perils and threats far from the battlefields on the perceived safety of American soil.
Mentor Name
Tobin Miller Shearer
Personal Statement
2022 GradCon Personal Statement The experiences of sailors involved in the Port Chicago explosion of July 17, 1944 and other key miliary events in the twentieth century furthered the divide between Black Americans and the US government. My contentions are supported by naval records and government documents, which show how the Navy chose to use its limited wartime resources – by protecting White sailors. Going deeper than military service, the experiences of Black sailors from their time in service had a dramatic impact on how they viewed their positions and status in society. This paper offers a new examination of concepts of a hierarchy within a hierarchy, classicism, and how a government’s perception of the value of its citizens created an almost criminal disregard for human life as justified by racial attitudes during WWII. My approach to the experiences of Black Americans in the military during the second half of the twentieth century goes beyond the discipline of history. The Black sailors from Port Chicago finished their military service and returned to society with a renewed sense of distrust and anger toward the US government based on what they endured or watched happening to their shipmates. The sailors felt that the government had used them as disposable labor with no appreciation or understanding of the conditions in which they were forced to work as if they were plantation workers. Those outside of the study of history can appreciate the racial divide that exists in contemporary society making this paper valuable to sociology, psychology, and legal studies. I have chosen to write my doctoral dissertation on the subject of understanding the deeper results of the institutionalized racism and discrimination experienced by Black Americans in the military during the twentieth century. As I watched the social unrest of Black Lives Matter and the George Floyd demonstrations, I felt that the anger and frustration expressed by all who took action. Their passion motivated me to use my knowledge and love for history to add my voice to the conversation of race. My paper, if selected for GradCon, will show others outside of the discipline of history that the experiences of Black Americans in the military was far worse than previously revealed. When others hear my presentation, hopefully they will be as moved as I was and want to continue the discussion of the legacy of racial discrimination. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Separate and Inequal: Black American Sailors in WWII
UC 330
2022 GradCon Proposal
Separate and Inequal: Black American Sailors in WWII
Scholars and historians consider the United States military as being at the forefront of racial integration. Military service is supposed to be the ultimate example of citizens banding together for the common defense of the country. While there are many examples of the military creating a sense of racial equality throughout the two hundred plus years of the US, WWII gave light to racism and discriminatory practices in the US Navy. The events surrounding the explosion at the Navy base at Port Chicago, California on July 17, 1944 showed how the military acted contrary to its perceived reputation of inclusion by creating a hierarchy within the established military hierarchy. The events and practices placed the needs of the military ahead of the lives required of the personnel to maintain the mobilization and support systems for WWII through Port Chicago’s officers, training, safety culture, and view of Black American sailors.
Racism and discrimination are part of the complex history of Black Americans in the US and military. Shown by training records, government documents, and the pre-war careers of some of the key people involved in the conditions prior to the explosion. These sources show that Port Chicago had an environment of discrimination and almost criminal disregard for the lives of Black sailors. In the past, Port Chicago and events showing discrimination have focused primarily on the first-hand survivor accounts of those directly affected. In contrast, this paper will look at the both the larger picture of how Black sailors died as a result of decisions made by the Navy to satisfy the immediate needs of war with safety and equality as distant if not ignored factors.
In consideration of looking beyond the discipline of history, this paper will engage a wide audience by showing how popular opinion misperceives the military as being progressive in race relations. The conclusions drawn show that the macabre business of making war abroad came at a domestic cost, the trust of Black Americans. A deeper understanding of the duality of the experiences faced by Black Americans, we as a society can continue to see why there is mistrust that the government acts in the best interest of all citizens regardless of race. This paper looks into the crucible of race relations in the US through the lens of the military to show how those who volunteered for service faced unknown perils and threats far from the battlefields on the perceived safety of American soil.