A member of a fascist militia or paramilitary organization, especially Mussolini's Italian fascist movement in the 1920s-1940s.
From black (color of the uniform shirt) + shirt (clothing). The term became historical shorthand for fascist violence, originating from the uniform choices of Italian squadristi.
The blackshirts showed how uniforms create identity and power — young men in matching black shirts felt invincible as a group and personally invisible as individuals, a psychological trick fascism deliberately engineered through clothing.
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