In this energizing and engaging memoir and call to arms, the international civil rights advocate and dynamic leader hailed as “the Canadian Obama” (New York Times) offers illuminating lessons—insights grounded in spirituality, love, power, and rebellion that go beyond identity politics—to help us elevate society and our own lives.
Born to a Quebecois mother and a Jamaican father, Balarama Holness spent the first decade of his life on an ashram in West Virginia, then moved north to his mother’s homeland, to a predominantly poor white suburb of Montreal where he encountered virulent racism. By the time he hit adolescence, Holness was falling between the cracks and experienced his first brushes with the police. Football offered a lifeline, and eventually Holness made it to the pros, playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the championship-winning Montreal Alouettes. Retiring from the game, Holness found a new path in law school, and today, is an influential political and community activist dedicated to anti-racism and empowerment.
In this moving and inspiring memoir, Holness takes stock of his life, his dreams and ambitions, and his dedication to serve others. Untitled is the record of his quest to change himself and the world—“a story of determination and empowerment that stands on the shoulders of civil rights giants. My journey is a continuation of the civil rights movement—a story that intertwines spirituality, love, power, and rebellion.” Balarama recounts tales that have not only shaped his life, but hold the potential to reshape society.
A personal odyssey intertwined with the social histories of Canada, Quebec, and the United States, Untitled provides illuminating lessons to help us recognize racism and injustice and transcend them—by better understanding how we should live in the short time we have, and work to build a truly peaceful and just society for our children.