Can I try and persuade you to keep that display. Gimp with other graphics programs use a checker pattern to indicate certain functions. Usually transparency but might just be the extent of the canvas or to differentiate outside image layer sizes.
You can change it within limits, Edit -> Preferences -> Display -> Check Style gives options white / grey / black only
But then in the future when you understand how graphic applications work, how will you easily differentiate say between a solid black area and a 100 % transparent area.
I suspect what you really need is a new layer (that is usually transparent as well but that setting can be changed)
Layer -> New Layer and set the fill to one of the options.
Then use the up/down arrows bottom of the layers dock to move it.
You can change it within limits, Edit -> Preferences -> Display -> Check Style gives options white / grey / black only
But then in the future when you understand how graphic applications work, how will you easily differentiate say between a solid black area and a 100 % transparent area.
I suspect what you really need is a new layer (that is usually transparent as well but that setting can be changed)
Layer -> New Layer and set the fill to one of the options.
Then use the up/down arrows bottom of the layers dock to move it.