Howard Zinn: The People's Historian

Howard Zinn presenting his The People Speak on History.

Howard Zinn died yesterday at age 87. Anyone who knows of this man’s work and does not appreciate what he did is a total ignoramus. Far from being a “revisionist” or “alternative” historian as many right wingers claim, Zinn simply rejected the old notion that history must be told from the perspective of kings, presidents, businessmen, and other ruling elites. His approach to history was to start not at the top, but at the bottom, with the people; hence his outstanding, A People’s History of the United States. Instead of writing obsequiously about the “great men” of history as many historians are wont to do, Zinn focused on the real agents of change in American history: abolitionists, suffragettes, labor unions, civil rights advocates, feminists, and other social movements. As I noted in a post about Zinn’s documentary, The People Speak, rights are not benevolently handed out by the powerful; they must be fought for through great struggle.

Although Zinn’s history is in part an exposé of the crimes of the government, it is also one of empowerment. The fundamental lesson of his work is that if people organize and work hard enough, they can shape the kind of country in which they want to live. This is why Zinn is reviled by the country’s power centers and their apologists. It does not matter to them that he was part of America’s “Greatest Generation,” a term the ever-modest Zinn resisted. It does not matter that he was a World War II veteran and bombardier who was awarded the Air Medal for his service in the fight against fascism. What matters to these defenders of power is that he’s saying all the “wrong” things. He denied, for example, that World War II was a “good war,” and reminded everyone that there is no such thing.

A number of years ago a colleague of mine decided that his students should read A People’s History for a course he was teaching. To his amazement, several bookstores could not accommodate his order—at least not as soon as he would’ve liked. So he called Howard Zinn on the phone having never met the man who was by then already famous. “Professor Zinn,” he said after introducing himself. “I’m having a hard time ordering A People’s History and I was wondering if you could help me.” Zinn replied, “First of all, call me Howard. Second, I’ll see what I can do.” He had the books delivered within a week.

By all personal accounts, this story is quite typical. Several years ago I drove an hour to see Zinn, I mean, Howard, give a great talk at Framingham State College. Afterwards he signed autographs and seemed genuinely appreciative of the interest people had in what he was saying. While I did not dare ask him to sign anything, I’m glad I was able to shake his hand and let him know that I was grateful for the work he had done over the years. We need more people like Howard Zinn now more than ever. Especially now that his one of a kind voice is silent.

- Max