Sports, a Mighty Vehicle of Expression against Culture Bias: Sports Teams in New York Chinatown in the Early Twentieth Century

Discrimination and restrictions against the Chinese in the United States alienated them from the larger American society.  Challenging the existing racial prejudice, the younger generation of the Chinese in the United States turned their frustration and confusion into a positive action.  As early as the 1910’s, New York Chinese in particular engaged in sports activities as a way to assert themselves as Americans citizens against racial discrimination.  This paper explores this engagement with a focus on the Chinese Athletic Clubin New York. It will also analyze the impact of their organized activities which aided both the physical and the psychological welfare of the participants.