Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn was an American historian, activist, and academic whose writings focus on issues of class, race, and state power. Born in 1922 in Brooklyn, New York, Zinn grew up in an immigrant family and attended New York University and Columbia University. He served combat missions in World War II before becoming a professor at Spellman College in Atlanta and Boston University. His first publications, such as the book LaGuardia in Congress, gained him national attention, and many of his works remain popular and relevant today. He passed away in 2010 at the age of 87.

Zinn was committed to writing from a non-Eurocentric perspective, believing that a more complex historical narrative was necessary in order to challenge mainstream interpretations of history. As a result of this perspective, his work has been controversial and highly influential. His best-known work, A People's History of the United States, is an analysis of the American past that focuses on the experiences of the marginalized and those that have historically been mistreated. In it, he claims that history, as typically written, serves to justify present inequalities and denies opportunities to oppressed groups by minimizing their suffering.

His works have inspired a variety of activists and authors, including previous American President Barack Obama and writer Ta-Nehisi Coates. His works have also been adapted into plays, films, books, and even a comic book.

Along with writing, Zinn was also an active member of various social movements, such as the anti-war, civil rights, and union movements. He was a speaker at multiple events and contributed to the thinking surrounding these movements. He also wrote passionately about the need to oppose the “totalitarian politics of the twentieth century.”

In addition to his work as a historian and social activist, Zinn also pushed for reform within academia. He spent five years as an activist professor at Spelman College, which was one of the first to embrace cultural diversity. Under his leadership, more than twenty courses were added to the Spelman curriculum focusing on background and experience of minorities and women. He even published a book showcasing the voices of forty Spelman students – many of whom later went on to become leading civil rights activists and political figures. Zinn's goal was to broaden access to education and allow students of all backgrounds to become engaged in their history and culture.

Zinn has left an immense legacy in the world still felt today. His works have inspired generations of activists, authors, and students to continue the fight for true civil rights and social change. His works have undoubtedly had an impact in our society and his commitment to justice and inclusivity will be remembered for generations to come.