Howard Zinn (1922-2010) was an American historian, playwright, and social activist. His life experiences deeply informed his historical work. Zinn grew up in a working-class family in Brooklyn, New York, and served as a bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. His time in the military, where he witnessed the devastation of a friendly fire incident, shaped his lifelong anti-war convictions.
After the war, he earned a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University. As a professor at Spelman College, a historically black women's college, he became deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, mentoring students and advocating for social justice. He was famously fired for his activism, which only strengthened his resolve. Zinn’s unwavering commitment to social justice and his belief that history should be used to empower ordinary people led him to write A People's History of the United States. Throughout his life, he remained a tireless activist and a powerful voice for civil disobedience and popular resistance.
