Carlo Greppi is an Italian historian and writer. He is director of Laterza’s Fact Checking series and a member of the editorial board of Jacobin Italia. His most recent book is Un uomo di poche parole. Storia di Lorenzo, che salvò Primo.
Born on this day in 1743, Toussaint Louverture led the black uprising that resulted in the Haitian Revolution. He was born a slave, and he died in captivity, having dealt a decisive first blow to colonialism and slavery.
For three decades, revisionists have systematically turned Italy’s discussion of World War II away from Fascist crimes and toward the Italians killed by anti-fascist partisans. The effect has been to trivialize the Fascist past — and legitimize a new far right.