Zinn, Howard

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Details / Bio

Howard Zinn (1922-2010) was a historian, playwright, and activist. He wrote the classic A People's History of the United States, "a brilliant and moving history of the American people from the point of view of those ... whose plight has been largely omitted from most histories" (Library Journal). The book, which has sold more than two million copies, has been featured on The Sopranos and Simpsons, and in the film Good Will Hunting. In 2009, History aired The People Speak, an acclaimed documentary co-directed by Zinn, based on A People's History and a companion volume, Voices of a People's History of the United States.

Zinn grew up in Brooklyn in a working-class, immigrant household. At 18 he became a shipyard worker and then flew bomber missions during World War II. These experiences helped shape his opposition to war and passion for history. After attending college under the GI Bill and earning a Ph.D. in history from Columbia, he taught at Spelman, where he became active in the civil rights movement. After being fired by Spelman for his support for student protesters, Zinn became a professor of Political Science at Boston University, were he taught until his retirement in 1988.

Zinn was the author of many books, including an autobiography, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train, the play Marx in Soho, and Passionate Declarations. He received the Lannan Foundation Literary Award for Nonfiction and the Eugene V. Debs award for his writing and political activism.

Primary creator references

Displaying 1 - 20 of 26
Title Type Section
Art of Revolution, The Item: Zine
Columbus, the Indians, & Human Progress 1492-1992 Item: Pamphlet
Declarations of Independence: Cross-Examining American Ideology Item: Book U.S. Studies
Disobedience and Democracy: Nine Fallacies on Law and Order Item: Book Rights and Liberties
Failure To Quit: Reflections of an Optomistic Historian Item: Book Activism
Howard Zinn On War Item: Book Peace and Militarism
On History Item: Book Activism
On History Item: Book Activism
On Race Item: Book African American Studies
Original Zinn: Conversations On History and Politics Item: Book U.S. Studies
Passionate Declarations: Essays on War and Justice Item: Book Peace and Militarism
People Speak, The Item: Book Rights and Liberties
People Speak, The Item: Video BI: Bios and Interviews
People's History of the United States, A : 1492 - Present Item: Book U.S. Studies
People's History of the United States, A: 1492-Present Item: Book U.S. Studies
People's History of the United States, A: 1492–Present Item: Book History
Power Governments Cannot Suppress, A Item: Book U.S. Studies
Power, History, and Warfare Item: Pamphlet
SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee): The New Abolitionists Item: Book Resistance and Revolution
Terrorism and War Item: Book Peace and Militarism

Other creator references