Monday, February 1, 2010

R.I.P., Howard Zinn

BigThink sent me this video clip late last week, with the passing of historian, activist and author Howard Zinn:

Zinn’s legacy (1922-2010) may most clearly be seen with his seminal 1980 book, “A Peoples History of the United States.” His works shed light on social and political inequities throughout the U.S. history, and the activists who worked to change it.
For many, his voice helped “The People Speak.” And close to home.
In 2002, Howard Zinn told the standing-room-only crowd gathered at the Buskirk-Chumley, that behind nearly every act of terrorism is a grievance that sparked the action. Zinn talked about his life, sharing how he worked in a shipyard at age 18 and later took part in World War II as an Air Force bombardier. “It didn’t occur to me that I was dropping bombs on people,” he said. “What I came away with was that war doesn’t solve anything.” Zinn came to town via Union Board’s lecture series.
Fast forward to a few years ago, when Bloomington South grad Anthony Arnove sat down with Zinn to begin working on a companion book to Zinn’s original work, called “Voices of A People’s History of the United States.” This led to “The People Speak,” a 90-minute documentary of dramatic readings from the letters, diaries and speeches of the people who spurred social change throughout American history. It aired on TV late last year. It included such dissident voices as Frederick Douglass, Henry Thoreau, Sojourner Truth. Thanks to Arnove, Bloomington audiences got a sneak peek at the film.
Once the “Voices” book came out, celebrity readings sprang up across the country, with such stars as Danny Glover, Viggo Mortensen, Sandra Oh, James Earl Jones, Marisa Tomei, Wallace Shawn, Alice Walker, John Sayles, Patti Smith and many more. A lot of those names ended up in the film, which Matt Damon co-produced. (It also had music by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Eddie Vedder, John Legend and more.) Damon has long been a fan of Zinn’s work. In the 1997 film he co-wrote and co-starred in, “Good Will Hunting,” Damon’s character talks to actor Robin Williams’s character about Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States” and its significance in highlighting the contributions of average people who did extraordinary things.
Zinn has made, and will continue to make, great strides in educating the American people about its history, its government and the ever-pressing need to advance social change.

• posted by Kristina   |   filed under fine arts, movies   |  
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