Checking Out Me History – GCSE English Literature AQA Revision

Poet

JOHN AGARD

Many people from ethnic minority groups have been successful in their fields; however, unfortunately because of their heritage, they have been deprived of gaining credit for their accolades.
History does not always reflect the true history.
Rather, it is often a retelling of events that elevates the successes of white or western figures.
Everyone should be taught important historical events, regardless of the person’s ethnicity, race or culture.

The speaker feels that he has not been taught a sufficient amount of history from different cultures and nations.
He is told about British historical events and the outcomes; however, he has not been informed about similar figures who accomplished the same in other countries.
Throughout the poem, contrasts are drawn between the two parallel histories.
In the end, the speaker decides that he will take control of his own education and seek to understand his own identity.