In many cases black Americans have been able to pursue professional football opportunities in the CFL that were for one reason or another unavailable in the United States.
Especially in the mid-20th century, many African American players came to Canada to avoid the racially charged atmosphere of segregation-era America.
At this time, the CFL was a legitimate competitor to the NFL, paying comparable wages and attracting a similar level of talent.
The NFL signed two black players, Woody Strode and Kenny Washington, both of whom played for the Los Angeles Rams.
The CFL's colour barrier was broken in 1946, when Montreal Alouettes general manager Lew Hayman signed Herb Trawick.
From that point on, a steady flow of African Americans began to migrate to the CFL, which, at the time, was a legitimate competitor league to the NFL.
[5] In 1964, Tom Casey became the first black player inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, three years before New York Giant Emlen Tunnell became the first black player in the NFL's Pro Football Hall of Fame.
[7] As Toronto Argonauts president in 1980, Heyman hired Willie Wood as the first black head coach in the CFL.
It was nine more years until Art Shell became the first black coach in the National Football League, with the 1989 Oakland Raiders.
By the time Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins became the first black quarterback in the history of the Super Bowl in 1988, the CFL had already seen such players as Moon, Damon Allen, Roy Dewalt, Danny Barrett, J.C. Watts, Condredge Holloway and Chuck Ealey in Grey Cup games.