Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn was born to a working-class family in Brooklyn. As a young man, he educated himself by reading the complete works of Charles Dickens and by hanging out with Communists who lived in his neighborhood. While he was a teenager, Zinn attended a peaceful protect in Times Square, and was knocked out by a police officer. The experience left a lasting impact on his thinking. Zinn fought in the Air Force during World War II, and later received an M.A. and Ph.D. in history from Columbia University. In 1964, he began teaching at Boston University, where he quickly became a beloved member of the history faculty. He was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement and anti-Vietnam protesting. In 1980, he published his most famous work, A People’s History of the United States, which has proven enormously popular. He died at the age of 87, one of the most admired and beloved figures of the American left.