An early indication of Charles White's importance was reflected in his inclusion, in his mid 20s, in James Porter's pioneering study of the history of African American art, Modern Negro Art, first published in 1943. A measure of the stature of Porter's book can be ascertained by its reprinting, on several occasions. First in the late 1960s, (published by Arno Press, New York, in conjunction with the New York Times, 1969. It was subsequently republished in the early 1990s, (Moorland-Springarn Series), Howard University Press and most recently, an edition published by Martino Fine Books, in 2020. Porter made several references to White in Modern Negro Art, and recognised the artist's importance by including reproductions of two works by White.