Hope and Resistance: Voices of a People’s History of the United States in the 21st Century
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Published 2024-07-04
In a special broadcast, we look at voices of a people’s history inspired by the late great historian Howard Zinn’s groundbreaking book, A People’s History of the United States, which helped reshape how history is taught in classrooms. Twenty years ago, Zinn and Anthony Arnove began organizing public readings of historical texts referenced in A People’s History of the United States. The two would go on to publish a book collecting theses texts under the title Voices of a People’s History of the United States. While Zinn died in 2010, his work continues to inspire millions across the country and the globe. Arnove and Hailey Pessin have just published a new book titled Voices of a People’s History of the United States in the 21st Century: Documents of Hope and Resistance. It gathers more than 100 speeches, essays and other documents of activism, protest and social change. We speak with them about the book, and feature readings from texts featured in it.
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All Comments (21)
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I read Howard Zinn's " People's History of the United States " and I was powerfully moved. At the end I was crying . I never forgot that book and I listened attentively to everything Howard Zinn shared before his death . Our Nation Needs millions More like Howard Zinn
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I love Howard Zinn. 💙💙💙 don’t remember how many copies I’ve bought of his seminal book over the years to share. This day’s moving show made me remember to update my debit information to include Democracy NOW! in my (modest) monthly donation; today is the best day to do my little part. Thank you all who bring us truth into our lives. 💙💙💙
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Thanks Democracy Now. My spirits needed lifting today during this sad time for our nation
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"No human being is illegal". Well spoken.
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🦸Prof Howard Zinn one of the GREATEST American Heroes of All Time 📚🎓✊
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I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger. Harriet Tubman (March 1822 - March 10, 1913)
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Have courage, we are the future chapters in the next generation's People's History.
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Howard Zinn also taught at Spelman College 🫶🏾
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Wonderful program on the moving importance of Howard Zinn's The Peoples History of the United States. Giving voice to the power of his words, giving power to the students who are learning the true history of our country is a beautiful tribute to the esteemed author, teacher & activist, who has made a huge difference on an individual basis around the world. 🌟
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Very powerful messages and voices against hate, fascism, and racism. We need much more people and programs like this in the world to point out to those of us who choose to ignore and displace the problems and history of an experimental country with outdated rules that only benefit the rich and powerful. Never give up, fight for a better America. Be inspired to make change for the better for all. Thank you Democracy Now for showing us all the right path we should be taking.❤
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Part of Zinn's legacy is the inspiration for An Indigenous Peoples History 📖 by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
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Howard Zinn an inspiration, truly!
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Thank you for sharing these great writers and the reading of their words. I was deeply touched, motivated and tearful upon reading, "The Invention of Wings", and purchase more than one copy of it. I gave a copy to a relative of mine who is a teacher and she refused to read it as she didn't like the "dialect" that was used in many parts of it. In my heart of hearts I felt that it wasn't the dialect that put her off, but the message of the book. We as a people are presented daily with a happy, happy, joy, joy, fake reality of life and any one, any voice that looks deeper, speakes truth, cares about real issues, is and has been labeled "a downer". The pretending, the false faces, the look at my material life, the fancy food, the fancy drink, the fancy car and houses, is coming to an end. It's all vanity. If what is happening right now in Gaza, in the Occupied West Bank and the corruption we are seeing in our government, the blind eye they've turned to our protests, marches and the deaf ear to our voices. If the militarization of our Police forces doesn't wake you up to cry fowl. You're unfortunately in a self induced coma or you are wallowing in the luxury that most of us don't have, don't want and don't need, to keep the blinders on and only seeing the false reality of what you want to see. Ignorance is not bliss, ignorance is dangerous and it doesn't have to come knocking on your own door for it to harm you in some form, some day.
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People migrate for the same reasons that we always have
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it changed me reading his book while deployed invading iraq.
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There's a really well done reading of A People's History of the United States here on YT. It's laid out 1 chapter per video in a playlist.
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I was privileged to take a class under Howard Zinn at Boston University and Dr Benjamin Quarles while I was a undergrad at Morgan State University (HBCU). We must keep teaching and teaching and teaching.
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I have that book. I have read that book. I am going to have to re-read it.
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This book 📕 opened my eyes 👀 year’s ago. A state prisoner told me about the book on the phone 📞 I was better informed about the real American 🇺🇸 History because of this book. Thank you 🙏🏽 Joey tevenal.
