Unlawful Orders: A Portrait of Dr. James B. Williams, Tuskegee Airman, Surgeon, and Activist

by Barbara Binns

Barbara Binns presents the inspiring story of one man in his struggle for racial equality in the field of battle and the field of medicine. Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future. The Tuskegee Airmen heroically fought for the right to be officers of the US military so that they might participate in World War II by flying overseas to help defeat fascism. However, after winning that battle, they faced their next great challenge at Freeman Field, Iowa, where racist white officers barred them from entering the prestigious Officers' Club that their rank promised them. The Freeman Field Mutiny, as it became known, would eventually lead to the desegregation of the US armed forces, forever changing the course of American history and race relations. One Black officer who refused to give in to the bigotry at Freeman Field was James Buchanan "JB" Williams. JB grew up the son of sharecroppers, but his loving family and insuppressible intellect drove him to push boundaries placed on Black Americans in the early twentieth century. JB's devotion to the betterment of others took him from the classroom where he learned to be a doctor, to serving as a medic in the US military and eventually joining the elite Tuskegee Airmen, where he fought to change the minds of all who believed Black men couldn't make good soldiers. But JB's greatest contribution came in his role as doctor and Civil Rights activist after the war, where he continued to push past injustices placed on Black Americans. Critically acclaimed author Barbara Binns tells the story of one man's remarkable life, and in doing so, explores the trials of the brave Black freedom fighters who defended the world against racism and bigotry, both on the front lines and at home.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Historical, Middle Grade, Social Justice, Childrens

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2022

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief biography of Dr. James B. Williams. He was a Tuskegee Airman. Along with his two brothers, he became a doctor. He fought extensively for civil rights.

This was a really interesting listen. I wasn't familiar with Williams before reading and only had a passing familiarity with the Tuskegee Airmen.

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I sat and read this book, I found myself not at all surprised by the hardships the Williams family had to endure while trying to pursue equality in a country that did not want to see them as such. It was heartbreaking to read, but I felt glad to see that they were able to persevere and accomplish many great things, as well as leave a legacy of strength and determination for those who would come after them.

I happened to be scrolling through Facebook and came across a post showing a recent graduating class of African American doctors and it made my heart soar to know that so many young people are following their dreams based on the foundation that Dr. Williams and his brothers laid down.

This book will help young readers to see and possibly understand a past that they will only get through reading about the experiences of others. I like how it doesn't downplay the actions of the men or the things that happened but speaks in a way that kids will be able to understand and learn.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023-24 Middle School Battle of the Books selection

Very interesting and a good read.

[calie · Rating 3 out of 5]

NC MBOB 2023-24.
easy audiobook, hard physical read

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Born in 1919, James B. Williams was part of a family with deep ties to both education and Civil Rights. His mother, Clara Belle Williams, attended college even though she was made to sit in the hallway for her classes because she was Black, and his father founded the El Paso, Texas chapter of the NAACP and proposed to Clara Belle on their stationery! In addition to information about Williams' family background and childhood, there is also information about the involvement of African Americans during the Revolutionary War and WWI, the racial issues of the summer of 1919, and information about Plessy vs. Ferguson and how the effects of that were seen in Williams' education. Since Williams wanted to be a doctor, Binns frames his studies in a comprehensive overview of how Black students were treated in the 1940s, and continues this treatment when he is assigned to medical corps and sent to Camp Pickett. There is a wealth of information about the treatment of Blacks, and the Freeman Field Mutiny in which Williams was involved that concerned the fact that Black officers were denied admission to officers' clubs even though these were not supposed to be segregated. The careers of both Benjamin O. Davis senior and junior are discussed at length and serve as good examples of how bad the treatment of Black soldiers by the military was.

Williams' 477th unit missed being sent to the front lines by just a few weeks, and he continued his medical studies, becoming the first Black surgical resident at a non-Black school, Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He also studied at McGill. As the Civil Rights movement started making changes in the 1960s, Williams was involved in a variety of organizations. One was the National Medical Association, a group of Black doctors who were denied admission to the American Medical Association. His own children were able to be successful in their own fields because of the constant work that he did toward equity.

While there is plenty of information just on Williams' life (and I loved Binns' note about the archival information she was able to access, as well as the fact that his daughter was a journalist, so there was a lot of good information saved!) to write a biography, it's fascinating to see how his life aligned with so many different important aspects of the Civil Rights movement. From his mother, who continued to attend college and learn throughout her life before dying at the age of 109, to his own struggles in so many areas, to the success of his children (who are closer to my age!), Unlawful Orders paints a vivid picture of the struggles Black Americans faced, and how those changed over time through the efforts of people like Williams.

Binns, whose middle grade novel 2018 novel Courage managed to weave in a lot of information about topics other than diving, has constructed a biography of James B. Williams that also includes a vast array of historical topics that informed his life. The books is just about equal parts biography and history, which is something I haven't quite seen before. The Scholastic Focus series does a great job of including a lot of primary source photographs and documents, and of covering information that hasn't been covered adequately in the past. It would be interesting to see Binns do a historical fiction novel about the Freeman Field Mutiny; there would be readers for that!

[Gavin Romine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Unlawful Orders by Barabra Binns. It was a great story about James B Williams life and legacy. Through all his adversity he was able to keep his composure and not lose his temper to allow him to achieve great things to make it where others could follow him to do things that most people never thought a person of color could ever do. Such as being an officer in the military and becoming a pilot serving his country in World War II. I thought it was interesting how their fighter group the Tuskegee Airmen were known for actually staying with and putting the bombers first in World War II. This was unlike the other white fighter groups where their pilots would be known for chasing after other enemy planes for their own personal glory and leaving the bombers defensive. As a veteran he was able to go to school to become a doctor and a surgeon. I also thought it was cool that as a doctor he was able to help many famous people such as Martin Luther King, and Muhammad Ali.I also enjoyed reading about him flying his wife and himself into Cairo Illinois a place I have driven through multiple times. In Cairo he used his medical abilities to help colored individuals that weren't allowed medical treatment at the hospital in Cairo because of the color of their skin. In conclusion I found this to be a very interesting book about World War II and a man fighting for his right to be treated as an equal.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is compelling nonfiction about the historical segregation involved in the military, centered specifically around Williams' experience. Binns covers a part of history that is not well-known, such as the Freedman Field Mutiny and 101 men who were arrested because they wouldn't sign a piece of paper that said they could be segregated against.

[Hali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for kids to help them learn about the many struggles of not only the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII but also of their struggles within the medical community and segregation into public schools and universities. Highlights the life and career of the Williams family, and in particular JB Williams.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great YA Biography

Dr. James B. Williams was a Tuskegee Airman, Surgeon and a Civil Rights Activist. This is a very well written YA biography about his life, containing many photos.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography with the bonus of historical information that will enlighten readers not only about Dr. James B. Williams, but also about Plessy v Ferguson case and the impact this and other historical events like the Freeman Field Mutiny have on our lives today.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid overview of Civil Rights history over the 20th century, centered around one family’s actions and accomplishments. Readable and inspiring, it is occasionally marred by awkward prose. Give this to students looking for an engaging biography.

[Christine]

I found this engaging and interesting. Even though is is advertised as a biography it really is more about the Civil Rights movement in general. I thought this was a great way for students to learn about this time period. Lots of photos included!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d give this 10 stars if I could. It’s written for middle-grade students, but I recommend it for everyone that age and older. It’s full of important history we aren’t taught in school.

[Wendy Post · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a biography this book loses focus and goes down every rabbit hole possible. Great research and information this was more about segregation of the armed forces and medical profession.

[Meggen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admire those with courage to stand strongly with their personal convictions, even in the face of great persecution line these Tuskegee airmen.

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The facts and details in this book will break your heart and make you cheer! History is important…like it or not!

[Peyton Hartle · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book though its isnt a story, its more of a documentary. :/

[Zander Brooks]

loved it

[✶ madeleine ✶ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars 🌟 (rounded up)

[Caydon Dial · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was slow. But it accurately described James Buchanan’s journey as a doctor and a military officer.

[~kara~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t really my favorite, and reading it always felt like a task, and I won’t deny that I’m glad that I’m done with it, but… I won’t say it wasn’t interesting


It wasn’t good, wasn’t bad, mid

🖐️🎤



(I don’t think I was in the right headspace)

[Ayden Almasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I typically don’t read nonfiction books (in fact, I find them quite boring and avoid them as much as possible), but this one was on my Battle of the Books list, so I had to read it. It took FOREVER to get into it, but it wasn’t too bad once I got towards the end. For someone who loves history and/or World War Two, this book is perfect. I was not a big fan, but that’s simply because I prefer dystopian novels.