B&W photo of man, books, Strike poster

HOWARD ZINN 1922–2010

Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922–January 27, 2010) was a historian, author, professor, playwright, and activist.

Howard Zinn speaking at a peace rally • Date unknown

Biography

Zinn was a historian, playwright, and activist. His life’s work focused on a wide range of issues including race, class, war, and history, and touched the lives of many people.
Howard Zinn on the telephone • Photo by Paul Alan Smith • Date unknown

Articles & Interviews

In addition to writing books, Zinn wrote articles, had several columns, and participated in numerous interviews. Many of these are available here in print, audio, and video.
Howard Zinn at his typerwriter • Estate of Howard Zinn • Late 1970s

Bibliography

Zinn was the author of many books, including A People’s History of the United States, SNCC: The New Abolitionists, the play Emma, and his autobiography You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train.

Featured News

Columbus and the Lens of History

For Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we feature an excerpt from Chapter One of A People’s History of the United States. Howard Zinn describes why he tells the story of Columbus’s arrival “from the viewpoint of the Arawaks” and “the inevitable taking of sides which comes from selection and emphasis in history.”

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