Join the faculty of humanities for an evening of music, food and insightful conversation on the impacts of racial trauma in Black communities from the colonial era to today
The faculty of humanities at McMaster University will host a book launch for author and professor Ingrid Waldron on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will take place at the McMaster Continuing Education Building, Room 204. It is free to attend, with a catered meal provided for all guests.
Waldron is the Hope Chair in Peace and Health in the Global Peace and Social Justice Program within the faculty of humanities at McMaster. She has released a new book titled From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter: Tracing the Impacts of Racial Trauma in Black Communities from the Colonial Era to the Present, which examines how racism continues to affect Black people’s mental health.
Waldron’s book brings together research from her PhD thesis, published at the University of Toronto in 2002, along with recent studies conducted in Hamilton and Halifax on mental illness among Black people.
“In Hamilton last year I completed a study on mental health problems experienced by Black youth in Hamilton and their experiences seeking care or accessing mental health services . . . In 2020, when I was still living in Halifax, I did a study on Black women's experiences with mental illness and seeking care in Halifax . . . I also did a study at around the same time in Halifax on Black youth in Nova Scotia and their experiences with mental illness, but with a focus on psychotic illnesses,” said Waldron.
Waldron’s research shows how racism continues to shape many areas of life, including education, employment, health care and mental health services. She emphasized the importance of Black people understanding the history behind the racism they face.
“If we don’t understand that history, we tend to blame ourselves,” said Waldron. “We internalize oppression, we internalize our racism to the point where we feel that something about us is faulty.”
If we don’t understand that history, we tend to blame ourselves. We internalize oppression, we internalize our racism to the point where we feel that something about us is faulty.
Ingrid Waldron, Hope Chair in Peace and Health
Global Peace and Social Justice Program
Waldron explained that when Black people understand where these feelings come from, they are less likely to feel that they are the problem. She believes that recognizing the history of racism can help break the cycle of self-blame and foster healing.
Waldron also emphasized that her book empowers and validates Black readers rather than victimizing them.
“I think you feel empowered because I provide statistics and studies . . . So I think a person who reads that is able to point to the system as the cause of that and why that's happening,” said Waldron.
However, Waldron’s book is not just for Black readers. She encourages non-Black people, particularly White mental health professionals and policymakers, to read it and understand the profound impact of racism on Black mental health.
“Most mental health professionals are White, and most professors at universities who teach this are White . . . I need them to know that there’s a real impact of racism on Black people’s mental health. I need them to know that the mental health system needs to change. It needs to be much more culturally responsive to Black people of different cultures,” said Waldron.
The book also examines how mental health professionals interact with Black clients and calls for systemic changes in the field. Waldron advocates for more research on Black mental health, as well as mental health policies that reflect Black experiences. She also stresses the need for greater diversity in mental health policymaking.
“Mental health policymakers in Canada are typically White. And that’s the root of everything. Policy shapes programs, policy shapes services. So if all policymakers are White, male, middle class, they’re navigating their world as White men who are middle class. They’re not going to understand the experiences of people who are not White, male and middle class,” said Waldron.
Waldron hopes her book helps people understand the real impact of racial trauma.
“Racial trauma is real, racial trauma is valid. It’s real and it can lead to mental health problems experienced by Black people,” said Waldron. She also believes that it is important for everyone to be part of the solution, not just Black people.
Racial trauma is real, racial trauma is valid. It’s real and it can lead to mental health problems experienced by Black people.
Ingrid Waldron, Hope Chair in Peace and Health
Global Peace and Social Justice Program
Waldron hopes that both Black and non-Black readers come away understanding how they can work together to create a more equal and supportive mental health system.
If you are interested in this discussion, you can register to join Waldron at her book launch on March 26, 2025. For more details, visit the faculty of humanities' Instagram.
Discover inspiring on-campus and local events that honour Black history and culture
Black History Month is here, and Hamilton is filled with exciting events celebrating the rich history and culture of the Black community. Throughout February, McMaster's Equity and Inclusion Office is hosting a variety of programs, which can be found on the Black History Month at McMaster website. Whether you're on campus or exploring the city, there are plenty of opportunities to honour the past and embrace the present. Here’s a list of upcoming events you won’t want to miss this month!
Valentine's Day Candygram Sale
MacAfricans is hosting a Valentine’s Day Candygram Sale to help you sweeten your loved one’s day! Pre-order candygram bundles through their Linktree by Feb. 12 and pick them up on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in MUSC 213. Don’t miss this thoughtful and sweet way to show your love!
NSBE Bake Sale
Celebrate Black History Month and Valentine’s Day with a delicious treat at the National Society of Black Engineers' bake sale! NSBE will be in MUSC on Feb. 12, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in MUSC, enjoy African and Caribbean snacks like puff puff, mandazi, and plantain chips, all for under $5!
Boardroom Banter: Games Night Edition
Join Degroote Black for a fun and interactive evening on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in room M12 of the Peter George Centre for Living and Learning. Test your knowledge of business and Black culture with a special twist on Black Card Revoked, a humorous game that challenges players on African American culture, history, and traditions. Enjoy the fun all while competing in teams and making new connections. Exciting prizes await!
Makeup Tutorial
Celebrate Black History Month with Zeena Beauty’s free makeup tutorial for Black women on Feb. 15 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Souk Marketplace in Jackson Square Mall. Learn expert tips for enhancing your natural beauty using high-quality makeup designed specifically for Black women’s skin tones, while enjoying Sudanese chai and Ethiopian coffee. For those interested, register on Eventbrite as spots are limited.
Supporting Black organizations and their events during Black History Month and beyond plays a crucial role in amplifying the voices and contributions of the Black community. These events foster a deeper understanding of Black culture, history and achievements while providing opportunities for connection, education and empowerment.
By actively participating in these events, we not only celebrate Black excellence but also help create an inclusive space for future generations to thrive.
Be sure to check out these events and stay tuned for more events by following the Black Student Success Centre and BHMatMac on Instagram for updates. Let’s continue to learn, connect and celebrate throughout the month!
C/O Keenan Jeppesen
Keenan Jeppesen, the Associate Director of High Performance, seeks to advocate for and represent Black student athlete voices
McMaster’s Department of Athletics and Recreation has recently been restructured to have separate staff groups that cover both athletics and recreation. These are headed by associate directors who report to the Primary Director, Shawn Burt. Trish Chant-Sehl is the associate director, recreation and healthy living, whereas Keenan Jeppesen is the associate director, high performance.
Jeppesen joined McMaster Athletics and Recreation ain January. His roots in the McMaster community run deep — as a child growing up in Hamilton, he attended McMaster basketball camps. He returned to McMaster as a student working towards his MBA and played on the Marauders men’s basketball team as a forward in the 2009-10 season, donning number 13.
Upon earning his MBA, Jeppesen worked for Viacom and Ubiquiti Networks before returning to McMaster to work as the director of basketball operations from 2018 to 2021. Afterward, Jeppesen began to work with the Onyx Initiative, aiming to help Black and Afro-Canadian students connect with corporate Canada to earn internships and work experience. Now, Jeppesen has found himself back with McMaster once again in the role of associate director, high performance.
“McMaster’s always been important to me and I think it's such an important part of Hamilton; [it is] the fabric of the community. And I'm just so happy to kind of be back in this capacity and help kind of continue the great tradition that McMaster has and really build upon that and try to take it to a new level,” said Jeppesen.
In this role, Jeppesen covers everything competitive, from teams that compete at the U Sports or national level, teams that compete in Ontario University Athletics competitions, clubs and recreational teams that compete in other leagues and the staff that support them, including field therapists, strength and conditioning coaches and even student services coordinators.
As the role is a newer one, Jeppesen is working to define the role for himself and for the department. High performance is a general term and he hopes to take a holistic approach to it, covering everything both on and off the court.
“It just doesn't mean wins or losses, but it's really about the development of our student athletes academically, as leaders and community members both within Hamilton and the greater McMaster community. [They are a] source of pride and true ambassadors of the McMaster values and missions,” explained Jeppesen.
"It just doesn't mean wins or losses, but it's really about the development of our student athletes academically, as leaders and community members both within Hamilton and the greater McMaster community. [They are a] source of pride and true ambassadors of the McMaster values and missions."
Keenan Jeppesen
With Jeppesen’s experience in uplifting Black voices, a large part of his role is implementing a response after the Black Student-Athlete systemic review that came out in October 2022. Part of this response is the 21 financial awards for Black student athletes, called the 'Black Excellence Athletic Financial Awards'. The application involves short submissions from Black student athletes that highlight their leadership and excellence to the community.
“The way I continue to support in the review response [is] really just bringing my own lived experience to the role and understanding Black and BIPOC student athletes and just trying to bring that lens to the decisions we make within the department and creating programs that in some cases are specific to them,” explained Jeppesen.
In addition to lending his own perspective to the situation, Jeppesen seeks to build the athletics and recreation department up by incorporating student feedback.
“[I’m] trying to be someone that student athletes of all ethnicities are comfortable coming to share their perspective and really just trying to build a department that really incorporates the feedback of our student athletes and making sure that we reflect their values and deliver the services that are important to them,” said Jeppesen.
“[I’m] trying to be someone that student athletes of all ethnicities are comfortable coming to share their perspective and really just trying to build a department that really incorporates the feedback of our student athletes and making sure that we reflect their values and deliver the services that are important to them."
Keenan Jeppesen
In this role, Jeppesen is able to combine his passion for strategy with working and uplifting student-athletes. Continuous improvement within the Department of Athletics and Recreation can be expected under Jeppesen’s leadership.
