3-19-18
“Civilisations" presenter David Olusoga blames Winston Churchill for war crimes in Africa
Historians in the Newstags: Africa, war crimes, Winston Churchill, David Olusoga
Historian David Olusoga has said he believes Winston Churchill was complicit in a number of atrocities committed in Africa in the early 20th century.
Speaking at the Oxfordshire Literary Festival Mr. Olusoga, who co-presents Civilisations on the BBC alongside Simon Schama and Mary Beard, says claims about the darker side of the former Prime Minster’s past are often drowned out by his status as a wartime leader.
Mr. Olusoga argued that although Churchill was remembered as being a great politician, he was “largely responsible” for war crimes in Africa, as well as the Bengal famine of 1943-44 in India.
“Certain people, we only want to hear the good things that they do. Certain events, we only want to hear the stories that we’re familiar with,” he said.
“And other people want to tell different stories, so we have this conflict. I think these are the history wars we are having.” ...
comments powered by Disqus
News
- Margaret Atwood: I Created Gilead, but the Supreme Court Might Make it Real
- "Great Replacement" Rhetoric has not Historically Been Out of Place in the Halls of Power
- Montpelier Board Appoints 11 Members from Descendants Committee
- Zemmour Acquitted of Holocaust Denial after Crediting Nazi Collaborator with Saving Jews
- Dig Into the History of Baseball's Negro Leagues with a Quiz from the Library of Congress
- Isaac Chotiner Interviews Kathleen Belew on White Power and the Buffalo Mass Shooting
- What if Mental Illness Isn't All In Your Head?
- Nursing Clio Project Connects Health, Gender and History
- Historian Leslie Reagan on the History of Abortion and Abortion Rights
- Mellon Foundation Event: Chinese American History, Asian American Experiences (May 19)