Jolly wins Toronto Book Award for memoir
Entrepreneur and civil rights activist Denham Jolly has won the 2017 Toronto Book Award for his memoir, In the Black: My Life.
The Jamaican-born Jolly has led a storied life since immigrating to Canada four decades ago, buying and becoming publisher of Contrast, a newspaper covering the Black community, in 1982.
Jolly also founded the first Blackowned radio station, FLOW 93.5, the Black Business and Professional Association and was a prominent member of the civil rights group, the Black Action Defence League.
A citation by the prize award jury noted: “Black rights activist and entrepreneur Denham Jolly should be a household name. With humour and colourful anecdotes, In the Black shines a light on many of the hurdles faced by immigrants trying to make a better life for themselves and their children. From politicians to community leaders, no punches are pulled as Jolly recounts the hurdles that littered his path to business, personal and community success.”
Among the finalists for the 43rd annual prize: I Hear She’s a Real Bitch by Jen Agg, Scarborough, a novel by Catherine Hernandez, Life on the Ground Floor, a memoir by James Maskalyk and Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer, a collection of essays edited by Jane Farrow, John Lorinc and others.
Jolly received $10,000 for the winning book while the four finalists each received $1,000.