1886-03-26 *Hugh Mulzac was born on this date in 1886. He was an African American merchant marine Captain. From Union Island, St. Vincent Island Group, British West Indies, Mulzac entered the Swansea Nautical College in South Wales to prepare for a seaman’s career while in his youth. He became an American citizen in 1918, and continued his instruction at the Shipping Board in New York. He earned his captain’s rating in the merchant marines that same year, but racism denied him the right to command a ship. Later Mulzac was offered the command of a ship with an all-Black crew. He refused, declaring, Under no circumstances will I command a Jim Crow vessel. Twenty-two years passed before Mulzac would again receive an offer to command a naval ship. During World War II, his demand for an integrated crew was finally met, and he was put in command of the SS Booker T. Washington. With its crew of eighteen nationalities, the vessel made twenty-two round-trip voyages in five years and carried over 18,000 troops all over the world. On the day the Washington was launched, Mulzac said, Everything I ever was, stood for, fought for, dreamed of, came into focus that day. The concrete evidence of the achievement gives one’s strivings legitimacy, proves that the ambitions were valid, the struggle worthwhile. Being prevented for those twenty-four years from doing the work for which I was trained had robbed life of its most essential meaning. Now at last I could use my training and capabilities fully. It was like being born anew. Captain Mulzac died in 1971, at age 84 years, without getting veteran status for service to his country. He received veteran status in 1988 only after a long court battle. Reference: US Merchant Marine Academy 300 Steamboat Road Kings Point, NY 11024
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:08:10 +0000
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