Today we are deeply saddened by the news of historian and political activist Howard Zinn’s death.
William Cordery, Senior Development Officer of Amnesty International’s Southern Region, shares a few words about Howard Zinn:
“Larry [Cox] and I had the great privilege of having dinner with Howard Zinn just over a year ago before an event in Atlanta to screen early clips of his 2009 film, The People Speak–inspired by Howard Zinn’s book A People’s History of the United States.
Even though Howard is famous for documenting stories and histories of peoples in the struggle that often go untold, his own history is quite rich. Here’s an article that shares some of that history, as well as reflections by Noam Chomsky.
He touched millions of lives and was truly a gift to the movement.”
Howard Zinn was scheduled to speak at this year’s Amnesty conference “All Rights for All People”. He will continue to be in our thoughts.
I met Howard Zinn about three months ago while he was in Chicago for a lecture at University of Chicago, convention to end the death penalty. This event was on my birthday and after celebrating another year of life, I couldn't just pass up a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear Howard Zinn speak. So after dinner, anxious and excited my friends and I went to meet the man behind the People's History of the United States.
His eloquent speech made me think about what this country has given us and what we've given this country. He helped me understand that we all have a higer calling then to just help ourselves and without helping one another everyday for the injustices of the world then there's no justice for all.
I turned 30 years old on that day and personally have struggled to find what it is I would like to do professionally for the rest of my life. I had spend some months volunteering for a state Senator of Illinois but after Howard Zinn's speech on a question asked if we should believe or trust the government, I knew that I could never be involved in the typical politic games again.
I cannot remember his speech verbatim but he said, "I never trusted/believed in the government not now, not ever. I trust/believe in the people who fought for us, who died for us like the Cherokee Indians, the soldiers who believe they would be given land for their time spent fighting for their country, those are the people I believe in and respect". And from that day forward my life has changed for the better and will never be the same again.
So thank you Howard Zinn for changing, evolving, involving another person in this life to make this world a better place, one demonstrating at a time.
I met Howard Zinn about three months ago while he was in Chicago for a lecture at University of Chicago, convention to end the death penalty. This event was on my birthday and after celebrating another year of life, I couldn’t just pass up a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear Howard Zinn speak. So after dinner, anxious and excited my friends and I went to meet the man behind the People’s History of the United States.
His eloquent speech made me think about what this country has given us and what we’ve given this country. He helped me understand that we all have a higer calling then to just help ourselves and without helping one another everyday for the injustices of the world then there’s no justice for all.
I turned 30 years old on that day and personally have struggled to find what it is I would like to do professionally for the rest of my life. I had spend some months volunteering for a state Senator of Illinois but after Howard Zinn’s speech on a question asked if we should believe or trust the government, I knew that I could never be involved in the typical politic games again.
I cannot remember his speech verbatim but he said, “I never trusted/believed in the government not now, not ever. I trust/believe in the people who fought for us, who died for us like the Cherokee Indians, the soldiers who believe they would be given land for their time spent fighting for their country, those are the people I believe in and respect”. And from that day forward my life has changed for the better and will never be the same again.
So thank you Howard Zinn for changing, evolving, involving another person in this life to make this world a better place, one demonstrating at a time.