A former football champion's engrossing personal story of spirituality and rebellion, and an inspiring call to action against systemic racism.
The son of a Jamaican father and a Quebecois mother, Balarama Holness spent his earliest, most formative years on an ashram in West Virginia, learning the principles of equity and austerity, which would guide him through life. It wasn't until he returned to Montreal at age ten with his mother and twin brother that he encountered virulent racism for the first time. Faced with a system that seemed stacked against him, Holness initially fell between the cracks.
Eyes on the Horizon is Holness's story of lifting himself up through the power of self-determination, spirituality and no small amount of rebellion to confront the systemic racism of his city and his country. He accomplished this first through football, going all the way to a Grey Cup championship, and later through activism and politics.
Holness's personal journey is connected to the social history of Canada, Quebec and the United States. Committed to reshaping society as we know it, he uses lessons from his own life to teach others about racism past and present, and to help people better understand how human beings should live and how to build a truly peaceful and just society for our children.
How does a man go from an isolated ashram to a championship football field and the front lines of social justice?
- A Unique Spiritual Journey: From a childhood on a Hindu ashram learning principles of equity to navigating the harsh realities of the outside world, this is a story of finding inner strength.
- Navigating a Biracial Identity: As the son of a Jamaican father and a Quebecois mother, Holness confronts virulent racism for the first time in Montreal, beginning a lifelong fight for his place in a country that sees him as “other.”
- From Champion Athlete to Activist: Follow the unlikely path from the grit and glory of winning a Grey Cup championship to the front lines of politics and grassroots activism.
- A Call for Social Justice: A powerful look at the social history of Canada and Quebec through a personal lens, offering lessons on how to confront systemic racism and build a more just society.