Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922 – January 27, 2010) was an American historian, playwright, philosopher, socialist intellectual and World War II veteran. He was chair of the history and social sciences department at Spelman College, and a political science professor at Boston University.

Howard Zinn wrote more than 20 books, including his best-selling and influential ‘A People’s History of the United States’ in 1980, and a younger readers’ version called ‘A Young People’s History of the United States’ published in 2007.

Zinn described himself as ‘something of an anarchist, something of a socialist. Maybe a democratic socialist.’ He wrote extensively about the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and labor history in the United States.

Zinn died of a heart attack in 2010, at the age of 87.

Zinn’s memoir, ‘You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train’ (Beacon Press, 1994), was also the title of a 2004 documentary about his life and work.

Howard Zinn was an American historian, playwright, philosopher, socialist intellectual, and World War II veteran. He served as the chair of the history and social sciences department at Spelman College, and was a political science professor at Boston University.

Zinn’s best-selling book ‘A People’s History of the United States’ offered a critical perspective on American history, focusing on the struggles of marginalized groups and social movements. His work has been influential in the study of history and social justice.