Black Genesis

About the Book

Black Genesis: The History of the Black Prizefighter 1760-1870 chronicles the saga of the black prizefighter from the birth of the modern ring through the conclusion of the bare-knuckle era. A series of historical biographies, gleaned from hundreds of primary sources, Black Genesis tells a story seldom told, adding a chapter to black history, as well as the annals of boxing, that has largely been ignored for the better part of two centuries. From the black Frenchmen Joseph Boulogne to the American slave Thomas Molineaux, the educated and refined Bill Richmond to the violent and desperate John Kendrick, Black Genesis brings forth the story of the bold, black pioneers who crossed into the white world of prizefighting, and made their mark on history.

Kevin Smith, a boxing historian and author, member of the International Boxing Research Organization, Founder of the Historical Society for Black Prizefighters and the world's foremost authority on black prizefighters, brings us the fascinating story of Black Genesis, through a collection of little known facts, stirring biographical detail and comprehensive records.

About the Author

Kevin Smith is a boxing historian and author who has researched the history of the black prizefighter for over 10 years. The founder of the Historical Society for Black Prizefighters, Smith has served as a consultant for the History Channel and PBS as well as the International Boxing Hall of Fame and several Historical Societies nationwide. A member of the International Boxing Research Organization, Smith lives with his wife Dennise, and three children, Aevary, Samantha and Rowan in Melrose, Massachusetts.