JCW time line
In the Mid 1950s, at early ages of 7 John and his 9 years old brother Robert Jr. were actively involved in the struggle for civil and human rights in their home town of Monroe, N. C. where their parents Robert F Sr. and Mabel R. Williams, were leaders in their local NAACP. The Union County branch of the NAACP organized by the Williamses was considered by many as the most militant branch of the national organization. The militant struggle waged by their branch put them on a collision course with local, state and national racist and governmental entities who had a vested interest in maintaining the Jim crow status in the south.
By 1961 Several threats and attempts had been made on Robert Sr.’s life and the entire family lived with constant threats of violence against them. Because of the collaboration between the racist and law enforcement, the Williams family had to flee for their lives from their hometown and eventually live in exile in Cuba and The People’s Republic of China for a total of 8 years.
While in exile in Cuba and China Robert Jr. and John lived and mingled freely among the Cuban and Chinese population. Both boys attended boarding schools with their Cuban and Chinese school mates. In 1969 the Williams family returned to the U.S. and established their home base in Detroit, Michigan. John and Robert Jr. attended and graduated from Michigan State University. Robert Jr. remained in the Lansing area where he worked for the Ingram County Probate Court as a senior, juvenile case worker, got married and had two sons Robert III and Benjamin.
John went to Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis where he graduated in 1976. In 1978 John moved to the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area of North Carolina where he under went what he described as a “rite of passage in the belly of the beast”. By 198? John returned to Michigan hoping to find a more favorable political climate and to be closer to his nuclear family members. In 198? Robert Jr. was diagnosed with Lukemia and died on 198?
In the Mid 1950s, at early ages of 7 John and his 9 years old brother Robert Jr. were actively involved in the struggle for civil and human rights in their home town of Monroe, N. C. where their parents Robert F Sr. and Mabel R. Williams, were leaders in their local NAACP. The Union County branch of the NAACP organized by the Williamses was considered by many as the most militant branch of the national organization. The militant struggle waged by their branch put them on a collision course with local, state and national racist and governmental entities who had a vested interest in maintaining the Jim crow status in the south.
By 1961 Several threats and attempts had been made on Robert Sr.’s life and the entire family lived with constant threats of violence against them. Because of the collaboration between the racist and law enforcement, the Williams family had to flee for their lives from their hometown and eventually live in exile in Cuba and The People’s Republic of China for a total of 8 years.
While in exile in Cuba and China Robert Jr. and John lived and mingled freely among the Cuban and Chinese population. Both boys attended boarding schools with their Cuban and Chinese school mates. In 1969 the Williams family returned to the U.S. and established their home base in Detroit, Michigan. John and Robert Jr. attended and graduated from Michigan State University. Robert Jr. remained in the Lansing area where he worked for the Ingram County Probate Court as a senior, juvenile case worker, got married and had two sons Robert III and Benjamin.
John went to Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis where he graduated in 1976. In 1978 John moved to the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area of North Carolina where he under went what he described as a “rite of passage in the belly of the beast”. By 198? John returned to Michigan hoping to find a more favorable political climate and to be closer to his nuclear family members. In 198? Robert Jr. was diagnosed with Lukemia and died on 198?