Salty Dog Blues

Al Santana and Denise B. Santiago's engaging documentary focuses on the experiences of African American and Puerto Rican men and women who served in the U.S. Merchant Marine from the 1930s through the 1980s. For many, the Merchant Marine offered an opportunity to both escape from crushing poverty and to literally sail away from a segregated society. Featuring on-camera interviews interwoven with archival photos and stock footage, Salty Dog Blues—narrated by journalist and media personality Felipe Luciano—covers several forgotten milestones in U.S. history, including the formation of the National Maritime Union in 1937, with its then-revolutionary pledge to treat all people as equals; the barrier-breaking achievement of Hugh Mulzac in becoming the first black captain of a Merchant Marine vessel (he had to receive his training in England after being refused instruction in the United States); the percentage of fatal casualties suffered by the branch during World War II (second only to the U.S. Marine Corps); the unusual opportunities afforded to females who sought careers in the Merchant Marine; and the shameful blacklisting of maritime union executives during the McCarthy era, which included the deportation of Jamaican-born union leader Ferdinand Smith. The filmmakers also address contemporary issues facing now-retired veterans, including stagnant pension plans and healthcare problems. An intelligent and compelling slice of off-the-beaten-path military history, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)