UNLAWFUL ORDERS

An account of a Black doctor and veteran whose principled actions helped change America.

James Buchanan Williams, JB to his friends, was a Black doctor and Tuskegee Airman born in 1919. His mother, Clara Belle, was the daughter of formerly enslaved sharecroppers, and his father, Jasper, was a co-founder of the El Paso chapter of the NAACP, something that made him a target for the Ku Klux Klan. Williams was among many Black men who served in the U.S. military during World War II but were denied financial benefits as well as dignity and basic respect. Along with other Black officers, he participated in the Freeman Field Mutiny, refusing to sign a paper consenting to abide by segregation at the Freeman Field base in Indiana, an important step toward the eventual integration of the armed forces. As a pioneering surgeon, Williams went on to play a role in the civil rights movement. He and his brothers, who also became doctors and established their own clinic, were active in the National Medical Association, which was founded to advocate for inclusivity in response to the American Medical Association’s racist practices. Binns tells Williams’ story succinctly and with respect and admiration. The book includes context about the broader social movements of the times and is enhanced by photographs and documents that bring the time period to life for readers.

An eye-opening look at the courage, dedication, and perseverance of an activist for racial equality.