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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Howard Zinn (1922-2010): A Tribute to the Legendary Historian



Democracy Now's Amy Goodman is joined by those who knew Howard Zinn best, Noam Chomsky, Alice Walker, Naomi Klein and Anthony Arnove, who reflect on the inspiring life of Howard Zinn, the people's historian. According to Goodman,"Howard Zinn’s classic work A People’s History of the United States changed the way we look at history in America. It has sold over a million copies and was recently made into a television special called "The People Speak." that aired recently on the History Channel."

As it turns out "The People Speak" is Howard Zinn's final legacy--completed in time for him to receive a standing ovation at Lincoln Center. According to History Magazine's Dr. Libby O'Connell, Dr. Zinn was on a mission to awaken the people to the effect of the"power of protest" on history.

On January 25 this year, just two days before Howard Zinn's death, Joan Brunwasser of OpEd News posted her interview with him, Howard Zinn on "The People Speak," the Supreme Court and Haiti Here is an excerpt from the interview with Howard commenting on the upcoming release of the DVD.

Joan Brunwasser: What's impressive and must be gratifying for all of you involved in the project. There's still another half hour of new material in the DVD that is being released next month, correct? What haven't we seen yet?

Howard Zinn: Yes, Joan, the History Channel program is 90 minutes, the DVD two hours. A bunch of readings we had no room for in the TV version: Marisa Tomei reading a Lowell mill girl of the 1830s, Benjamin Bratt reading an ex-slave responding to his master who wants him back, Danny Glover reading a black state legislator in Georgia responding to his expulsion from the legislature, Kerry Washington reading Fannie Lou Hamer, Marisa reading Cindy Sheehan, Sean Penn reading Kevin Tillman (brother of football star Pat Tillman killed in Afghanistan). And more, including the singer Pink with her song, "Dear Mr. President."

"The People Speak" extended DVD will be released February 11. You can pre-order the DVD from Buzzflash or Amazon. Read the Buzzflash review here. Howard Zinn also published The Young People's History of the United States in 2009.

Posted by 26 Dems