Although many black players found opportunities playing in Canada (I was surprised to learn that John Henry Johnson, for one, started his pro career there), they still encountered discriminatory practices in the sport and in society at large. A good overview is "The Migration of African Americans to the Canadian Football League during the 1950s: An Escape from Discrimination?" It's a good objective look written by Neil Longley, Tedd Crosett, and Steve Jefferson. It appeared in the International Journal of the History of Sport, Vol. 25, no. 10 (2008).JohnH19 wrote:RichardBak wrote:Generally, Canadians are easy-going and friendly folks, so it's easy to overlook the fact that our neighbors to the north were a bit inhospitable to black players back then.
That’s an inaccurate generalization. Cookie’s difficulties were an exception to the typical situation for black athletes in Canada. As you know, he was a confrontational man who often created problematic situations for himself throughout his life. Black players in that era generally found life up here a breeze compared to what they had to endure in many areas of the US. Many CFL players through the decades have chosen to remain here when their careers ended.
You're right, though, about the level of discrimination not being anything like it was in the U.S. south. But it wasn't always a bed of roses in Canada either. IIRC the Canadian leagues didn't field their first black until 1946 or '47.
