Virtual Book Talk

Of some twelve thousand Union Civil War surgeons, only fourteen were Black men. Discover the unique experiences of these proud, patriotic men who fought racism and discrimination to attend medical school and serve with the U.S. military. Their efforts and actions influenced societal change and forged new pathways for African Americans. Join author Jill Newmark as she illuminates how each man, through his service as a surgeon during the war and his lifelong activism for freedom, justice, and equality, became a catalyst of change and a symbol of an emancipated future.

Author Jill L. Newmark is an independent historian and former Curator and Exhibition Specialist at the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. She has curated numerous exhibitions and written several articles on African-American medical personnel who served during the American Civil War.