Howard Zinn’s classic work, A People’s History of the United States was famously read at the 92nd Street Y on February 23, 2003 by a cast including Alice Walker, Kurt Vonnegut, Danny Glover and many others. You can watch the video above, part of a special July 4, 2008 presentation of Democracy Now, or download the audio here. It’s pretty amazing stuff.

Since that first reading at 92Y in 2003, there have been more than 60 performances of Voices of a People’s History in 17 different states. What began here has taken on a life of its own, bringing alive the words of Susan B. Anthony, Tecumseh, Frederick Douglass, and Helen Keller, as well as unknown veterans, workers, teachers, abolitionists, and suffragists, on stages and in community centers and classrooms across America.

Continuing in this vein, Zinn returns on May 13 to host a special reading of 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. Some of these young rebels include Harriet Hanson Robinson, who went on strike with other teenage girls in the Lowell mills to protest working conditions, 17-year-old Claudette Colvin, who marched with other children in Alabama during the civil rights movement, and teenagers John and Mary Tinker who wore black armbands to their Iowa high school in 1965 to protest the deaths of Vietnamese citizens. The Tinker case reached the Supreme Court, leading to one of the most important First Amendment decisions of the 20th century.

Zinn will be joined by an all-star lineup that includes Tim Robbins, Stanley Tucci, Brian Jones, Amber Tamblyn, Shontina Vernon and, just confirmed, 12-year-old Evann Orleck-Jetter who testified in favor of gay marriage to the Vermont Legislature and will be recreating her testimony onstage at the Y. If you’re looking for inspiration and faith in people during these troubled times, this is not to be missed.

[Howard Zinn and Guests: Voices Of A Young People’s History Of The United States: 5/13/09]