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Mar 30, 2014
Barbara
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World War II seemed to offer opportunities for advancement for many African-Americans. But the promise remained simply that--a promise--as military units remained segregated, and many black sailors were given the jobs no one else wanted. This book, another fascinating plunge into a little-known aspect of history by the detail-minded Steve Sheinkin, tells the story of what happened at Port Chicago in 1944. Because the men who were handling explosives for the Navy at its base in the San Francisco
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Richie's Picks: THE PORT CHICAGO 50: DISASTER, MUTINY, AND THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS by Steve Sheinkin, Roaring Brook, January 2014, 208p., ISBN: 978-1-59643-796-8
At the conclusion of THE PORT CHICAGO 50, author Steve Sheinkin points out that the fifty defendants in this racist miscarriage of military justice are all now deceased, and so it is too late to fully remedy what was done to them. Nevertheless, as the author notes, there are people who know the story who are still seeking to exonerat ...more
At the conclusion of THE PORT CHICAGO 50, author Steve Sheinkin points out that the fifty defendants in this racist miscarriage of military justice are all now deceased, and so it is too late to fully remedy what was done to them. Nevertheless, as the author notes, there are people who know the story who are still seeking to exonerat ...more
Sheinkin has proven himself to be THE master of nonfiction kid's lit. This is a story that needed to be told, and Sheinkin weaves the story like an expert. Throughout the U.S., these men were seen as mutineers and lucky to have avoided an execution squad. But at a certain point in this book, the reader has to stop and ask his or herself (at least I had to stop an ask) What would I have done in this situation? What if I had volunteered to serve my country and had been limited to mundane but dange
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Although I did not think this non-fiction work was as well-crafted as some of Sheinkin's other books, it is worth recommending to middle-school readers interested in racial discrimination and the Civil Rights Movement. It tells the important but rarely heard story of 50 African-American sailors in the Navy during WWII who were court-martialed and convicted of mutiny for failing to follow officers' orders to load dangerous ammunitions on a ship. NAACP lawyer and future Supreme Court Justice Thurg
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Steve Sheinkin has a talent for taking the details in a huge story (desegregation of World War II military) and turning them into a fascinating story of how individuals create history. I love his examination of each of the main characters of the Port Chicago revolt. We learn about the racism rampant in the military, the country, and even the San Francisco Bay Area. We also learn about the desire that many men had to do more for their country, at the risk of losing their own lives, until it becam
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As always, Sheinkin presents this historical story with empathy for his principle figures and criticism of the systems of discrimination that oppress them. The story is tightly constructed and details are sharp and concise. The book is a great jumping off point for further study of the Port Chicago case and its legacy, especially concerning Thurgood Marshall, whose character, achievements, and importance should have been more thoroughly discussed.
Nonfiction is not exactly my favorite genre to read. I wouldn't even describe "Bomb"-which I loved and read in one sitting-as a page-turner. This book was a page-turner. The story is fascinating and infuriating. These unsung heroes deserve for everyone to know and appreciate the sacrifices and contributions they made to their country. And to history. A must-read.
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Sheinkin is so good at writing nonfiction for younger audiences. This story was not as exciting as Bomb, but it was still great and extremely well done.
This may not have been the best book to listen to on audio. I assume that the visual elements of the physical book would have made this better. The story was really interesting and I'd never heard anything about the Port Chicago 50, but I think I'd like to know more about the research since Sheinkin's style is to write in the format of a story.
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Steven Sheinkin always picks such interesting topics to write about...however often I find his writing on the dull side and sometimes struggle to finish his books.
Jun 06, 2014
Carol Coutts
marked it as to-read
Jul 17, 2017
Michelle
marked it as to-read
