Historian Paula Akpan on what's missing from the curriculum. Plus: The Black women of history erased from the record books + an exclusive extract of Akpan's groundbreaking debut book.
As an Irish person growing up in the UK, the curriculum taught me that Oliver Cromwell was something of a heroic figure. It was only after leaving school that I learnt what a monster he was. How he coralled and then burned women and children in Ireland. He was, in truth, hated and vilified both in Ireland and in his own country. In todays world he would be sectioned and put into a soft walled room. The British education system, in regards its history curriculum, is little more than propaganda and downright mistruths. Perhaps this goes some way to explain how BBC journalists and their ilk can so easily and shamefully vomit such biased views of current global events. Netanyahu, for instance, is portrayed as a political leader defending his people. In truth he is the Cromwell of our times. A psychopath intent on self preservation and happy to burn women and children to keep the distorted power he possesses. A power emboldened by the shameful stance taken by UK and western media. Homeschool your kids if you prefer them not to be shovel fed propaganda and lies.
As an Irish person growing up in the UK, the curriculum taught me that Oliver Cromwell was something of a heroic figure. It was only after leaving school that I learnt what a monster he was. How he coralled and then burned women and children in Ireland. He was, in truth, hated and vilified both in Ireland and in his own country. In todays world he would be sectioned and put into a soft walled room. The British education system, in regards its history curriculum, is little more than propaganda and downright mistruths. Perhaps this goes some way to explain how BBC journalists and their ilk can so easily and shamefully vomit such biased views of current global events. Netanyahu, for instance, is portrayed as a political leader defending his people. In truth he is the Cromwell of our times. A psychopath intent on self preservation and happy to burn women and children to keep the distorted power he possesses. A power emboldened by the shameful stance taken by UK and western media. Homeschool your kids if you prefer them not to be shovel fed propaganda and lies.