In 1917, the United States was far from being integrated and in the push to create the infrastructure to supply, train and ship soldiers to the European battle front, units such as the 24th Infantry were assigned to create some of these camps such as in Houston, Texas. Never mind that they were an African American unit, lead by white officers in the Deep South. There were tensions from their arrival, arguments over Jim Crow restrictions on public transport, belittling and racial slurs by contractors and a police force known for beatings and death threats with little provocation. On August 23, 1917, when rumors went through the Infantry's camp that a white mob was on their way to attack, panic broke out. Black Soldiers, White Laws: The Tragedy of the 24th Infantry in 1917 Houston focuses on this incident and the lengthy quest for true justice.

The events of August 23, caused the death of 20 people. After hearing the cry that a mob was on the way, soldiers gathered their weapons and ammunition and fired wildly out at the area surrounding the camp. Then, under the command of a non commissioned officer, members of the 3rd battalion marched out of camp to confront the supposed mob. The panic in the camp also struck the officers with the highest ranking officer fleeing the camp and being out of reach for hours.

Haymond is very thorough in the presentation. Providing expansive scene setting after a in media res opening. Then Haymond traces the time line of August 23 before the court martial and execution of 13 of the condemned. He rightly points out that even for the time period, much of the court-martial went against set policy and had a clear racial bias that was ignored with many witness inconsistencies and clear conflicts of interest . Any loss of life is a tragedy, but here there was no mitigation or consideration for the situation as it occurred. It all reads as a hasty scapegoating.

In the conclusion, Haymond shares his personal journey with the Houston Incident and his collaboration with many others in pursuit of clemency. Even within the military of 1917, the execution of the 13 caused changes in the procedures for court martial executions.

Recommend to readers or researchers of United States History, military history or long overdue justice.

Inflamed by a rumor that a white mob was arming to attack them, and after weeks of police harassment, more than 100 African American soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, marched into the largely Black San Felipe district of the city. Violent confrontations with police and civilians ensued and nineteen lives were lost. The Army moved quickly to court-martial 118 soldiers on charges of mutiny and murder, even though a majority of the soldiers involved had never fired their weapons. The Houston Incident, as it became known, has remained untold.

John A. Haymond’s writing is beautifully descriptive. There were moments I gasped and held my breath. It reads like a novel even though it is nonfiction. I will be honest. This book while a must read, is a hard book to read due to the subject matter. I think the fact it is hard to read, indicates how important it is we learn what happened.

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for an advance review copy. #PSYouretheWorst #BlackSoldiersWhiteLaws #NetGalley

John Haymond has done us a tremendous public service by resurrecting this tragic tale from the unfortunate shadows of history. There is an old bit of wisdom that says that a person only really passes on when their name is spoken for the last time. In this powerful new book, Haymond has ensured that the men swept up in fervor will have their names on our lips and minds for some time to come. Here is a story that forces us to come to terms with our Jim Crow past, even within institutions which ought have been egalitarian. It is a shameful commentary upon outcome determinative, animus related prosecution that will offend any lawyer working today, and send a shiver through the spine of all decent people. At turns dramatic and at many others tragic, Haymond's work on the "trouble in Houston" is destined to become a definitive reference on the subject.

As ever, I am grateful to Grove Atlantic for a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what an informative and enlightening book. I do wish this incident had never taken place by John Haymond made excellent use of his military background and writing abilities to bring this incident to the broader public.

Black Soldiers served in the US Military from the Revolutionary War so their service in World War One was not as unusual as it would seem. That Blacks and mixed race men were segregated from whites and discriminated against in the military is also not unusual (though it should have been). What is unique is how the US Army took discrimination of Black soldiers to a new level of horror.

Black men who successfully enlisted in the Army were kept in separate units always led by a white officer. These units were often given lowly tasks though some did see battle. The unit John Hammond focuses on is the 24th Infantry Regiment, formed in 1869. The unit served admirably in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War and on the Mexican Border. The unit was sent to the outskirts (now in the city limits) of Houston to guard the area during the construction of Camp Logan. The service men met resistance from the white civilians who believed fully in the segregation of non-whites. The police were especially guilty of harassment and brutality against the Black soldiers. Events came to a full boil on the night of August 23, 1917 when approximately 150 men marched toward Houston and killed 9 people including several police officers.

John Hammond leads the reader through the details of the precipitating incidents as well as the night of the riots. The crux of the book is the courts-martial that followed and the extreme prejudice used to prosecute the soldiers. He cites excellent resources (this is when his military background is especially effective) to guide the reader through the three courts-martial and the men on both sides of the issue. He weaves the efforts of the newly established NAACP to come to the aid of the Black Soldiers.

It wasn’t a surprise to me that Black soldiers were discriminated against, but it was a shock to see how deeply imbedded in the hierarchy of the Army the discrimination went. These incidents of Black Soldiers, White Laws will shock you, as they should.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.

Book Review: Black Soldiers, White Laws by John A. Haymond

I had to take a couple of days to really digest everything I read in this book. The emotions that overtook me while reading Black Soldiers, White Laws were heavy—anger, heartbreak, and deep conflict. This book is not just well-written, it's powerfully researched and unapologetically honest. I had never heard of the 1917 Houston Riot before, but after reading this, I feel informed—and shaken—by an injustice that went on for decades.

John A. Haymond walks readers through the events of August 23, 1917, when the racial tensions in Houston—ignited by abuse from the local police and ignored complaints—led to a tragic and violent night. What followed was one of the largest court-martials in U.S. history, resulting in the execution of 19 Black soldiers from the 24th Infantry. These men were serving a country that didn’t respect them, and the weight of that injustice is deeply felt in every page.

While I don’t agree with everything that happened that night (I thank the writer for being honest even by retelling what the soliders did that night), I also cannot condone the outcome. The executions, the trials dripping with racial bias, and the decades-long wait for clemency—all of it left me reeling. These men were caught in a system that disregarded their humanity, their service, and their right to justice.

Haymond doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of this chapter in American history. Instead, he lays it bare so that we can confront it. This book isn’t just a historical account—it’s a call to remember, to reflect, and to reckon with the past.

I applaud Mr. Haymond for bringing this painful story into the light. Black Soldiers, White Laws is a must-read—not only to learn about history but to understand how that history continues to shape our present and future.

Black soldiers white lies is a deeply researched and compelling account of one of the most significant yet overlooked episodes of racial injustice in American military history. With meticulous attention to detail, Haymond reconstructs the tragic events of August 23, 1917, and their devastating aftermath, bringing to light the systemic racism that shaped the trials and punishments of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment. His writing is both evocative and urgent, ensuring that this dark chapter is no longer consigned to obscurity.

That said, the book takes its time weaving through the many layers of the story. The opening chapters, while rich in historical context, move deliberately, introducing figures and events in a way that can feel meandering. The connections between the soldiers' actions, the legal proceedings, and the broader racial tensions of the time are slow to come into full focus. While this measured approach ultimately pays off—deepening the reader’s understanding of the institutional forces at play—it requires patience, particularly in the beginning.

Once the narrative gains momentum, however, Haymond’s account becomes gripping. The court-martials, riddled with injustice, are rendered with striking clarity, and the sheer scale of the legal and moral failures becomes undeniable. The latter sections, which detail the long-overdue clemency granted in 2023, provide a powerful sense of resolution—one that underscores both the weight of history and the possibility of righting past wrongs.

Despite its occasionally slow pacing, This is an essential read. Haymond’s dedication to uncovering the full truth behind this tragedy ensures that these soldiers’ stories are finally heard, and his work serves as a poignant reminder that justice, even when delayed, must never be abandoned

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!