Legendary historian and activist Howard Zinn passed away yesterday and we share in the world’s mourning of a true inspiration. Noam Chomsky remarked: “He’s made an amazing contribution to American intellectual and moral culture. He’s changed the conscience of America in a highly constructive way. I really can’t think of anyone I can compare him to in this respect.”

Zinn is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking A People’s History of the United States, which has sold over a million copies and was commemorated at the 92nd Street Y in February 2003 with a famous reading including Alice Walker, Kurt Vonnegut, Danny Glover and many others. You can watch it here.

Zinn returned in May 2009 to host another special reading, this one for the newly released, updated and illustrated A Young People’s History of the United States that highlights the words of America’s youngest rebels, dissenters and visionaries, from our past and present. You can watch his introduction above. Spoken-word performer and activist Staceyann Chin who read at the event returns to 92Y on Feb 7.

Anthony Arnove, Zinn’s co-editor on Voices of a People’s History of the United States, will also appear at 92Y on Monday, Feb 1 with award-winning playwright and actor Wallace Shawn to discuss creativity, controversy, the writing life and, surely, Howard Zinn. Alice Walker, who called him “the best teacher I ever had,” returns in April to discuss activism and her new book, Overcoming Speechlessness, with Democracy Now!‘s Amy Goodman.

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