In the Black

In the Black is a memoir by B. Denham Jolly chronicling his journey from Jamaica to Canada and his experiences as a Black businessman and civil rights activist in Toronto. The narrative follows his path from teacher to successful entrepreneur, including his ownership of hotels, nursing homes, and Toronto's first Black-owned radio station. Jolly documents the racial discrimination and systemic barriers he encountered while building his businesses and advocating for change in Canadian society. His twenty-year battle to obtain a radio license for FLOW 93.5 FM serves as a central thread throughout the book, alongside his involvement in key civil rights organizations and movements. Through his personal story and observations, Jolly reveals a side of Toronto and Canada that challenges the nation's reputation for multiculturalism and inclusion. His account contributes to the historical record of Black Canadian experiences and achievements while examining persistent inequities in Canadian institutions.

Readers appreciate Jolly's detailed account of founding Flow 93.5 and his fight for Canada's first Black-owned radio station. Many note the book provides an important historical record of Black Canadian activism and business development in Toronto from the 1950s through 2000s. Reviewers highlight his descriptions of facing discrimination in housing and business, while praising his matter-of-fact tone in recounting these experiences. Several readers mention learning new information about Toronto's civil rights movement. Some readers found portions of the book dry, particularly the technical details of radio station operations. A few noted redundancy in certain sections. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.7/5 (15 ratings) Notable review quotes: "Eye-opening account of systemic racism in Toronto's recent past" - Goodreads "Could have used tighter editing but invaluable history" - Amazon.ca "Important story somewhat buried in business minutiae" - 49th Shelf

The Stone Thrower by Jael Ealey Richardson A Black Canadian father's journey through racism, football, and family in 1960s Canada mirrors themes of perseverance and systemic barriers found in Jolly's memoir.

A Good Name by Yejide Kilanko This memoir chronicles a Nigerian immigrant's establishment of a new life in Canada while navigating racial identity and business ventures.

The Skin We're In by Desmond Cole The documentation of anti-Black racism in Canada through personal experiences and investigative journalism provides context to the systemic challenges Jolly describes.

They Call Me George by Cecil Foster The history of Black Canadian railway porters and their fight for labor rights presents parallel struggles to Jolly's experiences in business and media ownership.

Black Berry, Sweet Juice by Lawrence Hill The exploration of mixed-race identity in Canada through personal stories and interviews connects to Jolly's examination of Black Canadian experiences and community building.

🔹 B. Denham Jolly founded FLOW 93.5, Toronto's first Black-owned radio station, after a 12-year battle for a broadcasting license - a struggle that became a significant part of his memoir 🔹 The book won the 2017 Toronto Book Award for its powerful account of racism, entrepreneurship, and civil rights activism in Canada 🔹 Jolly immigrated to Canada from Jamaica in 1955 to study at the Ontario Agricultural College, and later became a successful businessman operating nursing homes and real estate ventures 🔹 Through his activism and media presence, Jolly played a key role in establishing the Black Action Defense Committee and fought against police brutality in Toronto during the 1980s 🔹 The memoir's title "In the Black" carries a double meaning - referring both to financial success in business and the author's identity as a Black Canadian breaking barriers in media ownership