Who is Howard Zinn? In this lesson you will introduce yourself to one of my favorite historians, Howard Zinn. Dr. Zinn popularized the phrase "A People's History" with his publication A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present. In order to gain a little background knowledge on this influential author we will use heavily in our course, take a moment and visit Howard Zinn's home page. The site is an archive of essays and commentaries, as well as text, audio and video interviews. A bibliography and upcoming events and news is also provided. For now, either read the brief biography or watch the YouTube movie provided to get a sense of the life experiences Zinn brings to his work as a historian. Since this site is the official website of Howard Zinn, we can be relatively confident in the accuracy of the content. Fortunately, the site is not commercial or flashy in the slightest, and it functions more as a message board and with the purpose of sharing Zinn's ideas. The Zinn Education Project In the link below, you will be introduced to the Zinn Education Project. This site will tell you what the Zinn Education Project is about and why teachers think it is important, as well as give you a background on who Howard Zinn is. The site also contains news updates on the project, and a list of related fiction and non-fiction books and films. Finally, I would like to share with you a speech I saw Dr. Zinn present at the National Council of Social Studies Conference which is now posted on the site. It is available under the "NEWS" link on the home page, and you should plan for 1 hour to watch it. In considering this site, remember, we are considering the historical perspective of one, White male. This is the profile of many historians, who have an agenda to promote a legacy of white privelege and power in tracing our nation's history. Think to yourself, how is Dr. Zinn challenging his privilege as a white male author of history. Now, begin reviewing the site. As you read and watch the video clip, answer the reflection questions below the link. Website Review Questions 1. What do you see as the goal of the Zinn Education Project? 2. What is one book or film title from the resources list that looks interesting to you? 3. Why does Zinn think we need to "challenge mindsets" and fundamental premises? 4. List and explain three of the fundamental premises that Zinn thinks we must challenge in thinking about history. 5. Do you think we all have the same interests? Why or why not? Use details from Zinn's speech to either support or challenge your argument. |
This is a sample post to demonstrate how you will post your responses to review questions above.
1. The goal of the Zinn Education Project is ...
2. One book I really think looks interesting is ...
and so on....Good luck!