Howard Zinn passed away yesterday at the age of 87. Zinn was a “radical” historian and one of the first protesters of the Vietnam War.
He was probably best known for his book, A People’s History of the United States, which showed that our history was not only shaped by those is power but also by ordinary people who were struggling against class, racial and gender issues.
I don’t really have many famous heroes but Howard Zinn was one of my heroes. Reading A People’s History changed me and partially shaped who I am today. The book made me believe that a single person could make a difference. That one ordinary person could be a catalyst for change.
Zinn may be too far to the left for a lot of people. But I don’t see anything wrong with wanting to live in a world that is free of war and in which the welfare of all people matters.
The People Speak was a documentary based on Zinn’s book with reenactments done by actors and musicians.
Zinn on war, human nature and aggression.
Update: Howard Zinn was a frequent guest on Democracy Now. Here is the archive of his appearances.
photo credit: vaXzine
Slightly ashamed to say it, but I first heard about Zinn while I was in college after watching Good Will Hunting when Matt Damon’s character mentions the book on his first meeting with his therapist. I immediately read and reread A People’s History (as well as Chomsky). Changed the way I thought about my education and education in general (I was getting a degree in English and History and went on to teach English for several years). Declarations of Independence is still one of my favorite books. I go back to it all the time.
Thanks for the links to the videos.
Hi Dana – That’s nothing to be ashamed of :-) I can’t remember when I first heard of him but it was way past college and that film – maybe 10 years ago but I don’t think it’s been that long.
I think his books really help us learn to carefully question what we are being taught. And I loved his mischievous smile.
Indeed a great loss for Zinn was one of the few who wrote the true history of the US. His books should be a must read for all students if they want to know the not-so-decent details about those who we call “our heroes”.
Thanks for the post!
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Hi Claudiu – I agree. I think it’s good to have his book assigned along with a traditional history book.
I’ve been thinking about him most of the day.
I first read The People’s History of the United States back when I was in high school. One of my teachers gave it to me and it changed the way I thought about what I’ve been taught my entire life up until that point.
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Hi Carla – That’s great! I didn’t read it until much later although it did exist while I was in high school ;-)
I’ve been trying to remember what was the catalyst for first reading it – it may have been recommended to me or I read about it somewhere else.
May he rest in peace.
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:-)
He changed how I thought about the world and about history. The world sucks a little more with him gone.
You may have seen this but on 1/28 Democracy Now had a tribute with Naomi Klein and Noam Chomsky.
http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2010/1
Hi Jim – I remember when you read the book.
I watched Democracy Now yesterday – it was a good show and I liked all the clips they showed of him. I also got the impression that the people who knew him, really loved him. Alice Walker kept referring to him as Howie ;-)