"He changed the conscience of a generation" (Norm Chomsky). From its initial 1980 publication of The Peoples' History of the United States , through its 5th edition in 2003, and the 35th anniversary edition in 2015, following his death, Howard Zinn's work captured an audience of students of history, scholars, politicians and activists. He told the "story" of American history focusing on ordinary Americans--women, factory workers, African and Native Americans, the working poor and immigrant laborers.
Covering Columbus' arrival through President Clinton's 1st term, A People's History..., offers an insightful and unabashed ideological analysis of critical events in American History. Zinn posits than many of our country's great battles-- the fight for fair wages, an 8 hour workday, child labor laws, universal suffrage, womens' and minorities' rights, and racial equality--emanated at the grassroots level and were fought against bloody resistance. Today, almost 40 years after its initial impact, A People's History.. still resonates, is still widely read, supported and criticized.
This SDG will cover Zinn's analysis, commentaries and criticisms, Zinn's legacy, and how America's history of its ordinary 'people' may be told in the future. In the process,
participants will reflect on what factors have driven American history, whether those factors are still active today, and the similarities and differences between the past and present.
