Author, Activist Howard Zinn Dead at 87 (Negromancer News Bits & Bites)

Howard Zinn, the author, historian, teacher and political activist, died of a heart attack in Santa Monica, California on Wednesday, January 27, 2010. Born on August 24, 1922 to Jewish immigrant parents in Brooklyn, Zinn served in the Army Air Force during World War II and also participated in the Civil Rights movement. Zinn was Professor of History at Spellman College from 1956 to 1963 and Professor of Political Science at Boston University from 1964 to 1988.

Zinn authored more than 20 books, but his most famous book is the leftist A People's History of the United States. An alternative to mainstream history texts, the book is also a favorite of such celebrities as Bruce Springsteen and Ben Affleck. First published in 1980 with little promotion and a first printing of 5,000, A People's History of the United States could be described as a people's best-seller. Through word of mouth, it attracted a broad audience and finally reached one million sales in 2003.

The Los Angeles Times website has this obituary.

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