Spotlight on Seema McArdle
By: Communications
UEA is celebrating the impactful work of Seema McArdle: a writer, educator and ant-racism ambassador for the Show Racism the Red Card charity, who has dedicated her time to encouraging inclusion across literature and education.
Find out more about Seema – from her involvement with the Show Racism the Red Card charity (including her involvement in UEA’s Wear Red Day on Friday 17 October) to her contributions to The John Blanke Project, and pathway to publication.
Seema McArdle
Seema describes herself as a ‘PunGeordie’ writer, born in Newcastle into a Punjabi family. She has played a key role in deepening understanding of British South Asian and Black identities, not only through her lived experiences – including 17 years as a primary teacher – but also through her growing profile as a writer and her proactive ambassador work.
Currently working within the Faculty of Humanities supporting placement students, Seema is also a member of UEA's Race Equality Steering Group, which aims to embed and promote race equality, to bring about institutional change for the benefit of our UEA community.
She is also a member of the Racial Justice Champions Group, organised by the Diocese of Norwich, working towards countering racism within schools across Norfolk.
Find out more about Seema’s involvement with the Show Racism the Red Card charity (including her involvement in UEA’s Wear Red Day on Friday 17 October), her contributions to The John Blanke Project, and her pathway to publication.
Show Racism the Red Card and Wear Red Day
As an ambassador for Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC), the UK’s biggest anti-racism educational charity, Seema is currently involved in campaigning (alongside the National Education Union and other organisations) for anti-racism education to be embedded into the National Curriculum.
This work has involved visiting the House of Lords for cross-party discussions, and meetings with Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Norwich South MP Clive Lewis, alongside Doreen Lawrence, Migrant Voice UK, sportspeople and more.
Image caption: Seema wearing red for Wear Red Day 2024; Ugbana Oyet, Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons, and Seema at last year's Black History Month event at the Speaker’s House; Seema with Norwich South MP Clive Lewis
At UEA, she has also played a key role in launching both South Asian Heritage Month and Wear Red Day in 2024, helping foster a more inclusive and representative environment across the University.
With Wear Red Day celebrating its eleventh anniversary on Friday 17 October this year during Black History Month, Seema explains why this day is important to acknowledge and how you can show support:
“Victims of racism often feel isolated, unseen and unheard. Wear Red Day is a voluntary way for staff and students to raise awareness and show support for anti-racism by wearing something red.”
The John Blanke Project and why representation matters
This year, Seema contributed to the publication ‘Who is John Blanke?’ (pages 168-169), a new book edited by TV historian Michael Ohajuru, which explores the life and significance of John Blanke – the first known Black person to be visually depicted in British art, featured on the Westminster scroll of 1511.
The book is now available in libraries at UEA, Norwich University of the Arts and The Forum, and at Norwich Book Festival’s bookshop.
Image caption: Seema and Michael Ohajuru at the ’Who is John Blanke?’ book launch
John Blanke was a Black trumpeter to the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII, captured in two images in Tudor artwork, as well as official records, which show him receiving wages and petitioning for a wage increase, and receiving prestigious gifts from King Henry VIII.
Speaking about The John Blanke Project, Seema says:
“Representation matters as by seeing ourselves in stories, we learn and dream of what we could become and achieve.
“To know that Black people existed in Britain in the past is powerful, as it counteracts the racist rhetoric we hear in society claiming People of Colour are ‘foreigners’ that don’t belong.
“We may never find a better representation of a Black Tudor than John Blanke and this is why I believe in celebrating his amazing journey, talents and phenomenal success.”
Seema's writing journey
After being selected for the National Centre for Writing’s Escalator programme (2023-24), an annual programme that celebrates East Anglian writers whose voices are underrepresented on UK bookshelves, Seema worked on her debut children’s novel with mentorship from award-winning author Ashley Hickson-Lovence.
Through this, she developed a ‘middle-grade time-slip adventure’ novel, The Golden Goblet.
“I’ve created diverse characters I identify with,” says Seema, “that I’ve taken on a thrilling adventure, while shining a light on amazing British People of Colour from the past.”
Seema’s novel is now on submission to publishers, and she is represented by literary agent Kerry-Ann Bentley (from KAB Literary agency).
This creative milestone follows earlier recognition, including her winning Faber’s FABPrize 2020 Publisher’s Prize, and being a shortlisted writer for Penguin Random House’s WriteNow 2021 competition.
This summer, she spoke at an Essex Writers Festival event, In Conversation with Ashley Hickson-Lovence, sharing insights into her journey on the Escalator mentoring programme and how to find your writing community.
Later this year, on Sunday 26 October at 1-2pm, Seema will host Prof Keon West, author of The Science of Racism, for Norwich Book Festival at The Forum. They will discuss racism in Britain, following scientific evidence, and how we may work together to counteract it.