Hi all, 

I hope that you are having a great summer! The new academic year is coming around quickly so I would like to take this opportunity to formally introduce myself. My name is Afia Khan, a third-year student of International Relations and French, and I am very excited to announce that I will be your new Ethnic Minorities Officer. Never hesitate to get in touch with me to share your views, questions or concerns!  

As Ethnic Minorities Officer, I am hoping to help coordinate Black History Month this October. It is important that we help steer this month in the way that best suits our black students. The theme for the month will be ‘representation’, make sure you watch out for the many society and SU led events throughout the month. I will be faciliating two workshops in line with this theme; Black Hair Magic and Digital Dictatorship. Black Hair Magic will be an event to celebrate the individuality, beauty and resilience of what it means to have hair of African or Caribbean origin. At this student led event, we want to champion hairstyles, hair care, Norwich barber shop favourites as well as listen to students’ exploration of self-acceptance through care. If you would like to become involved in this project, please get in touch via [email protected] .  

Additionally, ‘Digital Dictatorship’ will showcase the leading entrepreneurship of UEA Alumni and additional guest students working within the digital field. There will be insight provided about being from a minority ethnic group in the workplace post-university, as well as better understand why it is so important to have greater representation within this field. Equally, feel free to express interest or request further information.  

I am looking forward to working with all the societies across the university to make this Black History Month the best yet! I am thrilled by all the events already planned by many societies and urge all societies to become involved. We, at the SU, are currently looking for societies to host some events from a historical angle – please contact us if you’re interested.  

Wishing everyone a warm welcome back and a fantastic year ahead!  

Best,  

Afia Khan, Ethnic Minorities Officer