At the White House Conference on American History, speakers (including President Trump) attacked Howard Zinn, the New York Times 1619 Project, and the Zinn Education Project. As Brett Wilkins reported at Common Dreams, "Educators fired back a series of tweets defending the project and accusing the president of spreading 'McCarthy-like' and 'fascist' ideas."
The Summer 2017 issue of Bostonia, the Boston University alumni magazine, features a profile of Zinn Education Project co-founder William Holtzman and the recent book drive undertaken in response to a proposed Zinn book ban in Arkansas.
On March 1, 2017, Arkansas Representative Kim Hendren (R) introduced Bill HB1834 to prohibit any publicly supported schools in Arkansas “from including in its curriculum or course materials any books or other material authored by or concerning Howard Zinn.”
“Howard’s calm, quiet insistence on doing what was right and taking a stand are lessons that have stayed with me for a lifetime.”
By David Detmer
"...his extraordinary gift for clear expression, perhaps the biggest factor leading to Zinn’s success as a teacher was his relaxed, friendly, good-humored, unthreatening manner. While he certainly offered a challenge to the beliefs of many of his students, which he accomplished by presenting ideas of deadly seriousness, he also did so with a light hand, and with plenty of wit and humor. He encouraged everyone, not only to participate in class discussions, but also to 'challenge authority' by disagreeing with him."
The "Howard Zinn, Our Favorite Teacher" Series collects stories from former students at Spelman College and Boston University about his role as a teacher. Here is one example, a story by Michael Stavros, Class of 1973. If you are a former student of Zinn, please contribute your story here.
As the school year gets underway, we share this excerpt from Original Zinn: Conversations on History and Politics on democratic education, the value of skepticism, and building trust with students.
On April 24, 2014, a daylong symposium was held at New York University (NYU) to celebrate the donation of Zinn’s personal papers to NYU’s Tamiment Library by his children, Myla Kabat-Zinn and Jeff Zinn. Included in the donation are Zinn’s personal correspondences, school and military records, FBI files, datebooks, biographical articles, and interviews.
Panels held throughout the day highlighted different aspects of Zinn’s life and work, and included the following participants…
Alison Kysia • Zinn Education Project • November 18, 2013
Since the death of historian Howard Zinn in 2010, a number of scholars and politicians have targeted Zinn’s work in an effort to undermine his influence among educators.
The Zinn Education Project is collecting personal remembrances from Zinn’s students at Spelman College in Atlanta and Boston University. The first stories were posted in August of 2013 in honor of what would have been Howard Zinn's 91st birthday.
Zinn Education Project
White House Attacks Howard Zinn, the 1619 Project, and the Zinn Education Project
Posted: September 27, 2020 by Howard Zinn Website
Category: About Howard Zinn, In the News, News Tags: Zinn Education Project
‘Bringing Zinn to Class’: Bostonia Features Zinn Education Project Cofounder and Arkansas Book Drive
Posted: July 14, 2017 by Howard Zinn Website
Category: Articles & Interviews, Articles about Howard Zinn, In the News, News Tags: Boston University, Education, In the News, Zinn Education Project
Arkansas Bill Attempts to Ban Howard Zinn Books
Posted: March 22, 2017 by Howard Zinn Website
Category: Articles & Interviews, Articles about Howard Zinn, In the News, News Tags: Book Ban, Zinn Education Project
“Howard Zinn, Our Favorite Teacher” Series — Suzanne Baker
Posted: September 13, 2016 by Howard Zinn Website
Category: News, Tributes Tags: Activism, Boston University, Student Activism, Zinn Education Project
“Howard Zinn, Our Favorite Teacher” Series — David Detmer
Posted: August 17, 2016 by Howard Zinn Website
"...his extraordinary gift for clear expression, perhaps the biggest factor leading to Zinn’s success as a teacher was his relaxed, friendly, good-humored, unthreatening manner. While he certainly offered a challenge to the beliefs of many of his students, which he accomplished by presenting ideas of deadly seriousness, he also did so with a light hand, and with plenty of wit and humor. He encouraged everyone, not only to participate in class discussions, but also to 'challenge authority' by disagreeing with him."
Category: News, Tributes Tags: Boston University, Zinn Education Project
“Howard Zinn, Our Favorite Teacher” Series
Posted: January 18, 2016 by Howard Zinn Website
Category: News, Tributes Tags: Boston University, Zinn Education Project
Value of Skepticism and Breaking Down Barriers with Students
Posted: August 18, 2015 by Howard Zinn Website
Category: News Tags: Education, Excerpts, Spelman College, Zinn Education Project
Zinn Papers Dedicated at NYU Symposium
Posted: May 30, 2014 by Howard Zinn Website
Category: News Tags: Education, From the Archives: Tamiment Library, Zinn Education Project
Bashing Howard Zinn: A Critical Look at One of the Critics
Posted: November 18, 2013 by Howard Zinn Website
Since the death of historian Howard Zinn in 2010, a number of scholars and politicians have targeted Zinn’s work in an effort to undermine his influence among educators.
Category: Articles & Interviews, Articles about Howard Zinn, In the News, News Tags: A People's History of the United States, In the News, Zinn Education Project
Howard Zinn, Our Favorite Teacher: Memories from Former Students
Posted: August 20, 2013 by Howard Zinn Website
Category: News Tags: Boston University, Education, Spelman College, Zinn Education Project