Best readings on "the color line" in lower weight classes?

Specifically for the first half of the 20th century? What about early 20th century?

I just found this book on the first black champions.
http://www.bkwrks.com/book/9780786439942

Talks about Molineaux, Gans, Johnson, and the adversity they had to overcome.

 

It wasn't "AS" big a deal for a "colored" man to fight for the title in the lower weight classes in the first half of the 20th century. The heavyweight champion is supposed to be able to beat every man on the planet, so having a black heavyweight champion was terrifying to some.

In the lighter weight divisions, where there was still racism, and "colored" titles, everyone understood you are only supposed to be able to beat people in your weight class. So having a black champ wasn't viewed as being catastrophic, because it was assumed many heavier "white" fighters would probably beat him.

And there were plenty of black champs in the lower divisions. Henry Armstrong got title shots in four divisions, and won belts in three. Joe Gans was a dominant lightweight champ. Barbados Joe Walcott was welterweight champ. Beau Jack and Bob Montgomery were lightweight champs. John Henry Lewis was light heavyweight champ, and so was Battling Siki. Chalky Wright was featherweight champ. Tiger Flowers and Gorilla Jones were middleweight champs. Black fighters like Black Bill, Rufe Turner, Young Peter Jackson and others tried and failed to win titles. Having black men challenge for and win titles in the lower weight classes wasn't that strange a thing.

I'm sure all the white champs weren't thrilled with fighting black fighters and I'm sure many black fighters were dodged, just as there were white fighters who were dodged. But there were plenty of white champs who fought black challengers. Hell, there were plenty of white champs who lost their titles to Henry Armstrong.