Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn (born August 24, 1922 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American historian and political scientist, whose political philosophy incorporates ideas from Marxism, anarchism, socialism, and social democracy. Together with Noam Chomsky (with whom he has collaborated on several books and speaking engagements), Zinn is among the most well-known figures of the political Left in the United States.

A People's History

Among his many books, Zinn is best known for A People's History of the United States, a detailed work presenting American history through the eyes of ordinary people struggling to improve their lives, including striking workers, Native Americans, African-American slaves, women, African-Americans struggling against racism and for Civil Rights Populists, and others whose stories are not often told. Since its publication in 1980, "A People's History" has been assigned reading both as a high school and college textbook, and has sold well over a million copies, becoming one of the most widely known examples of critical pedagogy.

Related Topics:
A People's History of the United States - Native Americans - Populists - Critical pedagogy

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When Matt Damon, his mother, and brother moved next door to the Zinns in West Newton, MA, the families became friends, and the Zinns sometimes sat with the Damon boys. After Damon became an actor, he included a reference to "A People's History" in his film "Good Will Hunting," and read the latter half of "People's History" for an audiobook released February 1, 2003 (ISBN: 0060530065). "People's History" was also referenced in a Columbus Day episode of the TV show The Sopranos.

Related Topics:
Matt Damon - West Newton, MA - Good Will Hunting - February 1 - 2003 - Columbus Day - The Sopranos

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In the Spring of 2003, to commemorate the sale of the millionth copy of A People's History, a dramatic reading from the book was held at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The reading featured Danny Glover, Andre Gregory, James Earl Jones, Myla Pitt, Marisa Tomei, Kurt Vonnegut, Alice Walker, Alfre Woodard, Harris Yulin, Jeff Zinn, Producing Artistic Director of the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater http://www.what.org, and Howard Zinn as narrator. http://www.democracynow.org/index.pl?issue=20040705 The result was published as The People Speak: American Voices, Some Famous, Some Little Known.

Related Topics:
2003 - 92nd Street Y - Danny Glover - Andre Gregory - James Earl Jones - Myla Pitt - Marisa Tomei - Kurt Vonnegut - Alice Walker - Alfre Woodard - Harris Yulin

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In 2004 Zinn published Voices of A People's History of the United States with Anthony Arnove. Voices expands on the concept and provides a large collection of dissident voices in long form. The book is intended as a companion to A People's History and parallels its structure.

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