‘The fire in my skin’: Paarth’s poem about racism features in new anthology

Sixth-former Paarth Aggarwal’s defiant words about racism have drawn plaudits from the judges in an annual competition open to poets from around the world.

Paarth’s piece, entitled I know who I am, which was inspired by his reading of others’ experience of racism, was highly commended in the Black in White Poetry Competition.

He had the opportunity to present the poem at the competition’s awards ceremony hosted by The Transforming Words Foundation (TTWF) charity. It has been published in a new anthology of the winning competition entries, entitled White face, foreign hands.

Head of English Robert Hyland said: “Poetry is a powerful medium for looking at difficult issues, and my congratulations go to Paarth on his achievement in so successfully exploring complex themes of identity and prejudice in his poem.”

Paarth, of Year 12, said: “I wrote this poem to explore how racism can affect the way people see themselves, especially when they are constantly judged for how they look, speak, or where they come from. I was inspired by books of people who have been made to feel like they don’t belong simply because they are different, and that idea resonated with me.

“I wanted to show a journey: starting from feeling confused and pressured to change, and then gradually realising that those differences are actually a source of strength. The poem’s narrator begins by hearing insults and expectations from others, but eventually recognises pride in their heritage, culture, and individuality.

“The message I wanted to convey is that nobody should feel the need to shrink themselves to fit someone else’s idea of what is ‘normal’. Our backgrounds, voices, and identities are powerful, and embracing them is a form of resistance against prejudice. Through this poem, I hoped to encourage confidence, pride, and resilience in the face of racism.”

At the ceremony, Paarth was presented with a certificate by Cllr Tony Vourou, former Mayor of Barnet. TTWF was founded in 2020 by poet, communications leader and equality, diversity and inclusion expert Charlotte Shyllon.

Paarth is no stranger to competition success: in recent years he was won both local and international awards in connection with his success in using AI to develop apps to help visually impaired people and children with autism.

Paarth’s poem is set out below.

I Know Who I Am

They called me names I didn’t know,
Then laughed when I looked down –
Like being different was a joke
In this pale-painted town.

They said my skin was “too much sun,”
My lips, my nose, my hair –
Like beauty came in only shapes
That I would never wear.

They told me, “Speak like you belong,”
But I was always me –
My voice holds oceans, roots, and storms
That won’t bow to a sea.

They said, “You’re not like all the rest,”
As if that was a prize.
But I could see the lie they held
Still dancing in their eyes.

At first, I tried to scrub it off –
My name, my voice, my shade.
Until I saw the magic in
The things they tried to fade.

I come from warriors, song and stone,
From poets, drums, and flame.
And I will not make myself small
To fit inside their frame.

So let them whisper, point, or scoff –
I’ve heard it all before.
But every time they shut a gate,
I build a brighter door.

I know the power in my walk,
The fire in my skin.
And no one gets to dim the light
I carry deep within.