Howard Zinn Digital Collection
@zinndigital.bsky.social
Promote material about Howard Zinn (1922–2010) to 21st century historians, scholars, & activists. Managed by http://HowardZinn.org • http://facebook.com/howardzinn
“‘There are certain historical moments when learning is more compressed and intense than others,’ wrote Howard Zinn, a month after 9/11. The historian was writing in a moment of tremendous, escalating violence, and he sensed more death & destruction looming.”–James Folta
lithub.com/why-you-shou...
lithub.com/why-you-shou...
Why you should read Howard Zinn’s Artists in Times of War now.
“There are certain historical moments when learning is more compressed and intense than others,” wrote Howard Zinn, a month after 9/11. The historian was writing in a moment of tremendous, escalati…
lithub.com
August 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
“‘There are certain historical moments when learning is more compressed and intense than others,’ wrote Howard Zinn, a month after 9/11. The historian was writing in a moment of tremendous, escalating violence, and he sensed more death & destruction looming.”–James Folta
lithub.com/why-you-shou...
lithub.com/why-you-shou...
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
In 2020, Brut posted a 3-minute response to Trump's #ConstitutionDay attacks on Howard Zinn -- using remarks by Zinn on the importance of being honest with young people. (Clips are from NCSS 2008 conference keynote by Zinn.) #TeachTruth
Watch ⬇️
www.zinnedproject.org/news/other-h...
Watch ⬇️
www.zinnedproject.org/news/other-h...
"We Should Be Honest with Young People" — Howard Zinn
In this three-minute clip, Zinn counters Trump’s assertion that teaching people’s history tries “to make students ashamed of their own history.” To the contrary. Watch and share.
www.zinnedproject.org
August 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
In 2020, Brut posted a 3-minute response to Trump's #ConstitutionDay attacks on Howard Zinn -- using remarks by Zinn on the importance of being honest with young people. (Clips are from NCSS 2008 conference keynote by Zinn.) #TeachTruth
Watch ⬇️
www.zinnedproject.org/news/other-h...
Watch ⬇️
www.zinnedproject.org/news/other-h...
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
While Zinn’s essays on the Civil Rights Movement & war are well known, his writing about prisons & with prisoners gets less attention, reflecting the invisibility of mass incarceration in this country.
Here are some of Zinn's essays, quotes, letters.
www.zinnedproject.org/news/howard-...
Here are some of Zinn's essays, quotes, letters.
www.zinnedproject.org/news/howard-...
Howard Zinn on Prisons and Prisoners
A sampling of Howard Zinn's essays, quotes, trial testimonies, and correspondence related to prisons and prisoners.
www.zinnedproject.org
August 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
While Zinn’s essays on the Civil Rights Movement & war are well known, his writing about prisons & with prisoners gets less attention, reflecting the invisibility of mass incarceration in this country.
Here are some of Zinn's essays, quotes, letters.
www.zinnedproject.org/news/howard-...
Here are some of Zinn's essays, quotes, letters.
www.zinnedproject.org/news/howard-...
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
Born #tdih Howard Zinn (1922-2010) was a historian, professor, playwright, activist.
Author of APHUS, he wrote many books incl. "Vietnam: The Logic of Withdrawal" & "SNCC: The New Abolitionists."
Also trial testimonies on civil disobedience history. 🧵
Read: www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/ho...
Author of APHUS, he wrote many books incl. "Vietnam: The Logic of Withdrawal" & "SNCC: The New Abolitionists."
Also trial testimonies on civil disobedience history. 🧵
Read: www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/ho...
August 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Born #tdih Howard Zinn (1922-2010) was a historian, professor, playwright, activist.
Author of APHUS, he wrote many books incl. "Vietnam: The Logic of Withdrawal" & "SNCC: The New Abolitionists."
Also trial testimonies on civil disobedience history. 🧵
Read: www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/ho...
Author of APHUS, he wrote many books incl. "Vietnam: The Logic of Withdrawal" & "SNCC: The New Abolitionists."
Also trial testimonies on civil disobedience history. 🧵
Read: www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/ho...
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
“Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it.”
Howard Zinn was born August 24, 1922 in Brooklyn
Howard Zinn was born August 24, 1922 in Brooklyn
August 24, 2025 at 7:18 PM
“Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it.”
Howard Zinn was born August 24, 1922 in Brooklyn
Howard Zinn was born August 24, 1922 in Brooklyn
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
Happy Birthday to Howard Zinn, historian, activist, and author of A People’s History of the United States. His life’s work gave voice to ordinary people, challenged power, and reminded us that real change comes from collective struggle from below.
August 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Happy Birthday to Howard Zinn, historian, activist, and author of A People’s History of the United States. His life’s work gave voice to ordinary people, challenged power, and reminded us that real change comes from collective struggle from below.
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
Historian and anti-war activist Howard Zinn was born on this day in 1922.
August 24, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Historian and anti-war activist Howard Zinn was born on this day in 1922.
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
#OtD 24 Aug 1922 radical historian and activist Howard Zinn was born to a Jewish immigrant family in Brooklyn, NYC. Author of A People's History of the United States, Zinn did much to popularise the history of ordinary people and our struggles workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e69-...
August 24, 2025 at 10:49 AM
#OtD 24 Aug 1922 radical historian and activist Howard Zinn was born to a Jewish immigrant family in Brooklyn, NYC. Author of A People's History of the United States, Zinn did much to popularise the history of ordinary people and our struggles workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e69-...
Kicking off Monday: A new series of @zinnedproject.bsky.social “Teach the Black Freedom Struggle” online classes. Events are free. ASL interpretation provided. Learn more & sign up:
www.zinnedproject.org/news/teach-b...
Join our email list for more news: www.howardzinn.org/contact-sign...
www.zinnedproject.org/news/teach-b...
Join our email list for more news: www.howardzinn.org/contact-sign...
Teach the Black Freedom Struggle Online Classes
Online classes for educators on teaching the Black Freedom Struggle. People's historians interviewed by classroom teachers and teacher educators.
www.zinnedproject.org
August 23, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Kicking off Monday: A new series of @zinnedproject.bsky.social “Teach the Black Freedom Struggle” online classes. Events are free. ASL interpretation provided. Learn more & sign up:
www.zinnedproject.org/news/teach-b...
Join our email list for more news: www.howardzinn.org/contact-sign...
www.zinnedproject.org/news/teach-b...
Join our email list for more news: www.howardzinn.org/contact-sign...
Check out the 2025–2026 schedule of Voices of a People’s History performances. More news & events in our newsletter. Subscribe at: www.howardzinn.org/contact-sign...
www.howardzinn.org/voices-perfo...
www.howardzinn.org/voices-perfo...
Voices of a People's History Performances, 2025–2026 - Howard Zinn
Dates for 2025–2026 performances for Voices of a People’s History have been announced with events planned in Edinburgh and New York.
www.howardzinn.org
August 22, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Check out the 2025–2026 schedule of Voices of a People’s History performances. More news & events in our newsletter. Subscribe at: www.howardzinn.org/contact-sign...
www.howardzinn.org/voices-perfo...
www.howardzinn.org/voices-perfo...
"When A People’s History of the U.S. came out, it literally rocked the boat. Instead of starting where most histories of the Americas start—on the deck of Columbus’s ship—Howard Zinn flipped the script, focusing on what the people standing on the shore would have seen"–BklynPLibrary
bit.ly/brp-zinn
bit.ly/brp-zinn
The Legacy of Howard Zinn's Radical History - Howard Zinn
On August 4, 2025, the podcast Borrowed and Returned aired an episode called “The Legacy of Howard Zinn’s Radical History.” From the introduction: "When Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United ...
www.howardzinn.org
August 21, 2025 at 10:10 PM
"When A People’s History of the U.S. came out, it literally rocked the boat. Instead of starting where most histories of the Americas start—on the deck of Columbus’s ship—Howard Zinn flipped the script, focusing on what the people standing on the shore would have seen"–BklynPLibrary
bit.ly/brp-zinn
bit.ly/brp-zinn
Looking forward to the new Howard Zinn biography from Dave Zirin (@edgeofsports.bsky.social) due next summer! -- Stay up to date about all the Zinn-related news & events by joining the email list (emails sent 2-4x/year): www.howardzinn.org/contact-sign...
August 19, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Looking forward to the new Howard Zinn biography from Dave Zirin (@edgeofsports.bsky.social) due next summer! -- Stay up to date about all the Zinn-related news & events by joining the email list (emails sent 2-4x/year): www.howardzinn.org/contact-sign...
Aug 6 & 9 mark the anniversary of the Hiroshima & Nagasaki bombings. In THE BOMB, Howard Zinn offers his reflections & political analysis of these events, & how they transformed him from an order-taking WWII bombardier to an anti-authoritarian, anti-war historian.
www.howardzinn.org/collection/t...
www.howardzinn.org/collection/t...
August 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Aug 6 & 9 mark the anniversary of the Hiroshima & Nagasaki bombings. In THE BOMB, Howard Zinn offers his reflections & political analysis of these events, & how they transformed him from an order-taking WWII bombardier to an anti-authoritarian, anti-war historian.
www.howardzinn.org/collection/t...
www.howardzinn.org/collection/t...
"Whenever injustices have been remedied, wars halted, women & Black people & Native American given their due, it has been because 'unimportant' people spoke up, organized, protested, and brought democracy alive"–Howard Zinn
📖 www.howardzinn.org/collection/v...
📺 www.howardzinn.org/collection/t...
📖 www.howardzinn.org/collection/v...
📺 www.howardzinn.org/collection/t...
July 4, 2025 at 5:49 PM
"Whenever injustices have been remedied, wars halted, women & Black people & Native American given their due, it has been because 'unimportant' people spoke up, organized, protested, and brought democracy alive"–Howard Zinn
📖 www.howardzinn.org/collection/v...
📺 www.howardzinn.org/collection/t...
📖 www.howardzinn.org/collection/v...
📺 www.howardzinn.org/collection/t...
"The Declaration...says that government is not sacred, that it is set up to give people an equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and that if it fails to do this, we have the right to 'alter or abolish it.'"– Howard Zinn, July 4, 1975
www.howardzinn.org/collection/s...
www.howardzinn.org/collection/s...
The Spirit of Rebellion - Howard Zinn
By Howard Zinn, from The Zinn Reader Writing a column to appear in the July 4, 1975, issue of the Boston Globe, I wanted to break away from the traditional celebrations of Independence Day, in which t...
www.howardzinn.org
July 4, 2025 at 4:29 PM
"The Declaration...says that government is not sacred, that it is set up to give people an equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and that if it fails to do this, we have the right to 'alter or abolish it.'"– Howard Zinn, July 4, 1975
www.howardzinn.org/collection/s...
www.howardzinn.org/collection/s...
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
#tdih 1914: National Guard fired on Colorado tent colony of striking miners.
Howard Zinn learned of the Ludlow story from Woody Guthrie ballad, not his history classes, leading Zinn to write and teach people's history. #TeachTruth
Short film and more ⬇️
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/lu...
Howard Zinn learned of the Ludlow story from Woody Guthrie ballad, not his history classes, leading Zinn to write and teach people's history. #TeachTruth
Short film and more ⬇️
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/lu...
April 20, 1914: Ludlow Massacre
The National Guard fired on striking miners and their families in Ludlow, Colorado.
www.zinnedproject.org
April 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
#tdih 1914: National Guard fired on Colorado tent colony of striking miners.
Howard Zinn learned of the Ludlow story from Woody Guthrie ballad, not his history classes, leading Zinn to write and teach people's history. #TeachTruth
Short film and more ⬇️
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/lu...
Howard Zinn learned of the Ludlow story from Woody Guthrie ballad, not his history classes, leading Zinn to write and teach people's history. #TeachTruth
Short film and more ⬇️
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/lu...
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
#tdih 1979, the Boston University faculty union called a strike.
Howard Zinn was one of the strike committee co-chairs.
Read ⬇️ about the strike from Zinn's autobiography, "You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train." 🧵
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/bo...
Howard Zinn was one of the strike committee co-chairs.
Read ⬇️ about the strike from Zinn's autobiography, "You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train." 🧵
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/bo...
April 5, 1979: Boston University Strike
Boston University refused to approve negotiated contract, so the faculty union called a strike, with Howard Zinn as co-chair of strike committee. Other staff and librarians also went on strike that sp...
www.zinnedproject.org
April 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
#tdih 1979, the Boston University faculty union called a strike.
Howard Zinn was one of the strike committee co-chairs.
Read ⬇️ about the strike from Zinn's autobiography, "You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train." 🧵
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/bo...
Howard Zinn was one of the strike committee co-chairs.
Read ⬇️ about the strike from Zinn's autobiography, "You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train." 🧵
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/bo...
FROM THE ARCHIVES
"A Few Cryptic Notes on Power and Powerlessness" by Howard Zinn, 1976
Powers of the Powerless:
(the political counterpart of guerrilla tactics)
1. Sheer numbers can be hard to control, especially with dispersal.
2. Organization of energy can make up for lack of resources.
🧵1/5
"A Few Cryptic Notes on Power and Powerlessness" by Howard Zinn, 1976
Powers of the Powerless:
(the political counterpart of guerrilla tactics)
1. Sheer numbers can be hard to control, especially with dispersal.
2. Organization of energy can make up for lack of resources.
🧵1/5
February 26, 2025 at 9:04 PM
FROM THE ARCHIVES
"A Few Cryptic Notes on Power and Powerlessness" by Howard Zinn, 1976
Powers of the Powerless:
(the political counterpart of guerrilla tactics)
1. Sheer numbers can be hard to control, especially with dispersal.
2. Organization of energy can make up for lack of resources.
🧵1/5
"A Few Cryptic Notes on Power and Powerlessness" by Howard Zinn, 1976
Powers of the Powerless:
(the political counterpart of guerrilla tactics)
1. Sheer numbers can be hard to control, especially with dispersal.
2. Organization of energy can make up for lack of resources.
🧵1/5
Today, Jan. 27, marks the 15th anniversary of Howard Zinn's death. Learn how historian, researchers, and activists are keeping Zinn's spirit alive. Subscribe to the newsletter (conta.cc/3E5WEbp) at www.howardzinn.org/contact-sign-up/
January 27, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Today, Jan. 27, marks the 15th anniversary of Howard Zinn's death. Learn how historian, researchers, and activists are keeping Zinn's spirit alive. Subscribe to the newsletter (conta.cc/3E5WEbp) at www.howardzinn.org/contact-sign-up/
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
“I’m a radical historian & I like radical because radical means getting to the roots of something,” Howard Zinn to Jim Sullivan in 2008.
Read more via @forward.bsky.social, written for the 15th anniversary of Howard Zinn's death (1/27/2010). ⬇️
@zinndigital.bsky.social
forward.com/culture/6903...
Read more via @forward.bsky.social, written for the 15th anniversary of Howard Zinn's death (1/27/2010). ⬇️
@zinndigital.bsky.social
forward.com/culture/6903...
He was a Jewish leftist like Sandy Koufax — remembering Howard Zinn
“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we c...
forward.com
January 26, 2025 at 4:39 AM
“I’m a radical historian & I like radical because radical means getting to the roots of something,” Howard Zinn to Jim Sullivan in 2008.
Read more via @forward.bsky.social, written for the 15th anniversary of Howard Zinn's death (1/27/2010). ⬇️
@zinndigital.bsky.social
forward.com/culture/6903...
Read more via @forward.bsky.social, written for the 15th anniversary of Howard Zinn's death (1/27/2010). ⬇️
@zinndigital.bsky.social
forward.com/culture/6903...
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
In a 1968 video editorial on @wgbh.org, Howard Zinn (@zinndigital.bsky.social ) nominated Eartha Kitt and Dr. Benjamin Spock for Woman and Man of the Year because they “both refused to play the game” by speaking out against the Vietnam War. #TeachTruth
Watch ⬇️
www.howardzinn.org/collection/z...
Watch ⬇️
www.howardzinn.org/collection/z...
Howard Zinn Lauds Eartha Kitt and Dr. Benjamin Spock for Their Resistance (1968) - Howard Zinn
Op-ed by Howard Zinn. Clip from “What’s Happening Mr. Silver?” WGBH Boston. 1968. Originally broadcast on “What’s Happening Mr. Silver?” on WGBH Boston, Howard Zinn lauds Eartha Kitt and Dr. Benjamin ...
www.howardzinn.org
January 18, 2025 at 1:44 PM
In a 1968 video editorial on @wgbh.org, Howard Zinn (@zinndigital.bsky.social ) nominated Eartha Kitt and Dr. Benjamin Spock for Woman and Man of the Year because they “both refused to play the game” by speaking out against the Vietnam War. #TeachTruth
Watch ⬇️
www.howardzinn.org/collection/z...
Watch ⬇️
www.howardzinn.org/collection/z...
Reposted by Howard Zinn Digital Collection
Fantastic day 1 at #AHA25 with joint ZEP & @zinndigital.bsky.social booth. K-12 teachers & historians, incl. @profjeffries.bsky.social, Joe Schmidt, Ina Pannell-SaintSurin, Dr. Eric Foner, Lauren Cooper, Jessica Terry-Elliott, & more.
Sunday at 12: book giveaway & book signing by Jeanne Theoharis.
Sunday at 12: book giveaway & book signing by Jeanne Theoharis.
January 5, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Fantastic day 1 at #AHA25 with joint ZEP & @zinndigital.bsky.social booth. K-12 teachers & historians, incl. @profjeffries.bsky.social, Joe Schmidt, Ina Pannell-SaintSurin, Dr. Eric Foner, Lauren Cooper, Jessica Terry-Elliott, & more.
Sunday at 12: book giveaway & book signing by Jeanne Theoharis.
Sunday at 12: book giveaway & book signing by Jeanne Theoharis.
People’s History at #aha25 in New York
Folks from HowardZinn.org and @zinnedproject.bsky.social will have a booth at the American Historical Association Conference this weekend. Stop by and learn about current projects, the Zinn archives, and grab some stickers, pens, and postcards.
Folks from HowardZinn.org and @zinnedproject.bsky.social will have a booth at the American Historical Association Conference this weekend. Stop by and learn about current projects, the Zinn archives, and grab some stickers, pens, and postcards.
January 2, 2025 at 9:57 PM
People’s History at #aha25 in New York
Folks from HowardZinn.org and @zinnedproject.bsky.social will have a booth at the American Historical Association Conference this weekend. Stop by and learn about current projects, the Zinn archives, and grab some stickers, pens, and postcards.
Folks from HowardZinn.org and @zinnedproject.bsky.social will have a booth at the American Historical Association Conference this weekend. Stop by and learn about current projects, the Zinn archives, and grab some stickers, pens, and postcards.
Dec. 7 • Noam Chomsky's birthday
Howard Zinn: "Like rock & roll groups. I was the warm-up. I had a lot of emotional statements surrounding several facts. Noam would come on with one vaguely emotional statement and 7,000 facts. It seemed to me a good combination."
www.howardzinn.org/collection/w...
Howard Zinn: "Like rock & roll groups. I was the warm-up. I had a lot of emotional statements surrounding several facts. Noam would come on with one vaguely emotional statement and 7,000 facts. It seemed to me a good combination."
www.howardzinn.org/collection/w...
When Zinn and Chomsky Met - Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn interviewed by David Barsamian. Excerpt from The Future of History. December 7 is the birthday of Howard Zinn’s longtime friend Noam Chomsky. In celebration, we share this interview with ...
www.howardzinn.org
December 7, 2024 at 8:21 PM
Dec. 7 • Noam Chomsky's birthday
Howard Zinn: "Like rock & roll groups. I was the warm-up. I had a lot of emotional statements surrounding several facts. Noam would come on with one vaguely emotional statement and 7,000 facts. It seemed to me a good combination."
www.howardzinn.org/collection/w...
Howard Zinn: "Like rock & roll groups. I was the warm-up. I had a lot of emotional statements surrounding several facts. Noam would come on with one vaguely emotional statement and 7,000 facts. It seemed to me a good combination."
www.howardzinn.org/collection/w...
Indian Resistance & Thanksgiving Declarations: 1960s and 70s
In Chapter 19 of "A People’s History of the United States," Howard Zinn wrote: “Never in American history had more movements for change been concentrated in so short a span of years.”
📖https://www.howardzinn.org/thanksgiving-resistance/
In Chapter 19 of "A People’s History of the United States," Howard Zinn wrote: “Never in American history had more movements for change been concentrated in so short a span of years.”
📖https://www.howardzinn.org/thanksgiving-resistance/
Indian Resistance and Thanksgiving Declarations - Howard Zinn
By Howard Zinn. Excerpt from A People’s History of the United States Chapter 19 highlight Native American resistance during the 1960s and 70s. As Howard Zinn states, “Never in American history had mor...
www.howardzinn.org
November 28, 2024 at 6:03 PM
Indian Resistance & Thanksgiving Declarations: 1960s and 70s
In Chapter 19 of "A People’s History of the United States," Howard Zinn wrote: “Never in American history had more movements for change been concentrated in so short a span of years.”
📖https://www.howardzinn.org/thanksgiving-resistance/
In Chapter 19 of "A People’s History of the United States," Howard Zinn wrote: “Never in American history had more movements for change been concentrated in so short a span of years.”
📖https://www.howardzinn.org/thanksgiving-resistance/