Farewell to one of America’s great intellectual liberators.
Posted on 28 January 2010
Howard Zinn was above all a gentleman of unflagging grace, humility and compassion.
He as all great historians reflected the world back at you but with a clarity and focus you had yet to discover.
No American historian has left a more lasting positive legacy on our understanding of the true nature of our country, mainly because his books reflect a soul possessed of limitless depth. Howard’s PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES will not be surpassed. As time goes on new chapters will be written in its spirit to extend its reach. But his timeless masterpiece broke astonishing new ground both in its point of view and its comprehensive nature. The very idea of presenting the American story from the point of view of the common citizen was itself revolutionary. That he pulled it off with such apparent ease and readability borders on the miraculous. That at least a million Americans have bought and read it means that its on-going influence is immense. It is truly a history book that has and will continue to change history for the better.
Howard was no ivory tower academic. His lectures were engaging, exciting and inspirational. But they took on an added dimension because he was personally engaged, committed and effective. He chose to write books and articles in ways that could impact the world in which they were published. He showed up when he was needed, and always had a sixth sense about exactly what to say, and how. His criticism avoided being personal, it was at once passionate and objective, lucid but focused and above all warm hearted – he cared deeply about the fragility of our own humanity.
Howard Zinn truly lives uniquely on at the core of our national soul. His PEOPLE’S HISTORY and the gift of his being just who he was, remains an immeasurable, irreplaceable treasure.
Thanks, Howard, for more than any of us now can know.
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1 Response to Farewell to one of America’s great intellectual liberators.
Peoples’ history will live on.