Zinn apparently had a
FOR THE RECORD:
Zinn obituary: The obituary of professor, author and social activist Howard Zinn in Thursday's Section A said that Spelman College in the 1950s and '60s was then an all-black women's school. The college's current student population remains all female and is predominately black —91% of those enrolled are African American, according to the most recent statistics.
Zinn's political views were shaped, in part, by his experiences as a bombardier for the
"My father cared about so many important issues," Kabat-Zinn said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "I think the one he was really most eloquent about is that he thought there was no such thing as a just war."
Indeed, in a 2001 opinion piece published in The Times, Zinn wrote about being horrified by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and equally horrified by the response of U.S. political leaders, who called for retaliation.
"They have learned nothing, absolutely nothing, from the history of the 20th century, from a hundred years of retaliation, vengeance, war, a hundred years of terrorism and counter-terrorism, of violence met with violence in an unending cycle of stupidity," he wrote.
"A People's History" was published in 1980 and had an initial printing of 5,000 copies. But largely through word of mouth, the book attracted a major following and reached 1 million sales in 2003.
The work, which hails ordinary Americans such as farmers and union activists as heroes, accused Christopher Columbus of genocide and criticized early U.S. leaders as proponents of the status quo. "A People's History" has been taught in high schools and colleges across the nation.
The book was the basis for a History Channel
The executive producer was actor
"From the moment we had any influence in this town, we've been trying to get this project off the ground," Damon told reporters in July. "It demonstrates how everyday citizens have changed the course of history."
Zinn was born in 1922 to a working-class family in
In his 1994 memoir, "You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train," Zinn recalled that his parents used discount coupons to buy the complete works of
Zinn received his doctorate from
He was a professor emeritus at Boston University, where he was a familiar speaker at
Former
"He was basically integrating himself into the world of black students," Hayden said Wednesday.
Hayden said Zinn became actively involved in the movement as an advisor and leader. The two later protested the war in Vietnam and worked on other social justice issues, Hayden said.
"He had a profound influence on raising the significance of social movements as the real forces of social change in our country," Hayden said. "He gave us our heritage and he gave us a pride in that heritage."
Zinn was scheduled to speak Feb. 4 at the Santa Monica Museum of Art for an event titled "A Collection of Ideas . . . the People Speak."
On its web page, the museum said that it was "deeply saddened" by Zinn's death and that the event would go on as a tribute to Zinn's life as a social activist.
Paramedics responded to a 911 call about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and took Zinn to Santa Monica
Zinn was in a hotel when rescuers arrived, according to his daughter.
In addition to his daughter, Zinn is survived by his son, Jeff Zinn, and five grandchildren, according to his family. His wife Roslyn died in 2008.
robert.lopez@latimes.com
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
