Eyes on the Horizon: My Journey Toward Justice

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.

From a childhood on an ashram to a Grey Cup championship and the halls of power, Holness’s story is a testament to the fight for a better world.

• A Story of Self-Determination: Raised on a Hindu ashram with principles of equity, Holness confronts the virulent racism of Montreal, forging a path through sheer will and a refusal to be broken.
• From CFL Champion to Activist: Trace the incredible journey from winning a Grey Cup championship on the football field to tackling systemic injustice in the political arena.
• Biracial Identity in Quebec: An intimate look at the complexities of being the son of a Jamaican father and a Quebecois mother in a province defined by its own identity politics.
• Social Justice in Action: More than just a personal story, this is a call to action and a practical look at how to challenge the status quo and build a more just society from the ground up.