A Call to Action

Howard Zinn has inspired many, many people. I know because he inspired me, spurred me to question, to learn more, and sometimes even to act. I don’t remember exactly when I learned about him--sometime when I was around eleven or twelve--but I know it is because of him that I have studied social justice issues, because of him that I have ever questioned our current economic system and governance system, because of him that I can at least purport to be a political radical, disagreeing with the actions of ruling parties, protesting imperialism.

Howard Zinn woke me up to the importance of history, a discipline I had never truly found interesting until he showed me how history connected essentially with present-day events, how it revolved around fascinating struggles of people and deeply flawed systems which we still live with, in one form or other, to this day. Howard Zinn ignited in me a deep appreciation for the study and interpretation of history, not only as an act of learning, but as an act of social conscience. With that act, he also drew from me a great respect, appreciation, and admiration for Howard Zinn as a human being.