China Clipper
Pro football's first Chinese-Canadian player, Normie Kwong
by Richard Brignall
The story of what it took for a young Alberta boy to become the first Chinese-Canadian to play professional football in Canada.
Normie Kwong's parents immigrated to Canada from China in the early 1900s. For them, and many other Asian immigrants, moving meant having to face both the government's anti-Asian policies and society's attitude of Chinese exclusion. But Normie overcame it all and, despite his small stature, in 1948 he became the youngest footballer ever to play in a Grey Cup game.
Nicknamed the "China Clipper" as a nod to both his Chinese heritage and his record-setting speed on the football field, Kwong went on to become a hero and popular sports role model for generations of football fans in the West. After retiring from football, Kwong entered politics and was later appointed Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. [Fry Reading Level - 4.9
Nicknamed the "China Clipper" as a nod to both his Chinese heritage and his record-setting speed on the football field, Kwong went on to become a hero and popular sports role model for generations of football fans in the West. After retiring from football, Kwong entered politics and was later appointed Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. [Fry Reading Level - 4.9
About the Author
Subjects (BISAC)
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Sports & Recreation, JUVENILE NONFICTION / History / Canada / General, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Topics / Prejudice & Racism, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Football
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