Alaina Roberts discussed the Reconstruction era connections between Black freedom and Native American citizenship in the context of westward expansion onto Native land. This session is part of the Zinn Education Project’s Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

During Banned Books Week 2022 (Sept. 18-24), not only are books being banned, but also the right to teach about racism and LGBTQI identity — essentially placing thousands more titles off limits. The official lists of banned books, while useful, are a drop in the bucket.

The Zinn Education Project has produced a series of lessons and a collection of discussion questions for How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith to help teachers introduce the central role of slavery in U.S. history classes across the country.

Throughout the week of the 100th anniversary of Howard Zinn’s birth on Aug. 24, 1922, we co-hosted events for educators, archivists, and the wider community to learn from Zinn’s life and work — and to share the many ways that people continue to document and share people’s history.

Archivists and historians gathered online for a session called "Radicalizing the Archives" during the week of activities to commemorate the Howard Zinn Centennial.

For the Howard Zinn Centennial, share YOUR story of when you first read A People’s History of the United States or how you teach people’s history.

On Wednesday, August 24, 2022, sports historian Dave Zirin and Teaching for Black Lives co-editor Jesse Hagopian hosted an event with special guests to commemorate Howard Zinn (1922–2010) and other people’s historians on this 100th anniversary year.

For the Howard Zinn Centennial, we are highlighting people’s historians who preceded Howard Zinn and those who are expanding the field today. One historian we feature is Lerone Bennett Jr., who was senior editor of Ebony magazine.

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the Zinn Education Project launched the Prentiss-Charney Teacher Fellows program. Named for education activists C. J. Prentiss and Michael Charney, the fellowship offers support for a cohort of people's history teacher leaders each year.

A new documentary, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, will be released on October 19. It is based on the bestselling biography of the same name by Jeanne Theoharis. The film was produced by Soledad O'Brien Productions and directed by Yoruba Richen and Johanna Hamilton. 

We need to expose the right's agenda and be visible in our defense of teaching people's history. Don't let the right control the narrative. We ask EVERYONE (including YOU) reading this news post to defend the right to #TeachTruth.

Reconstruction was not a “failure” as referenced in many state standards. Students should learn that specific white supremacist individuals, organizations, and systems actively defeated it.

On July 11 and 12, 2022, 30 middle and high school teachers participated in a workshop offered by the National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC) and the Zinn Education Project on teaching Reconstruction.

Meet the first class of Prentiss Charney Fellows of the Zinn Education Project for the 2022-2023 school year. The fellowship offers support for a cohort of people’s history educator leaders to study, learn, and organize together for one year.

It is urgent that educators of conscience commit ourselves to equipping our students to recognize the breadth of the climate emergency, to probe its social and economic causes, and to come to see themselves as activists for a just society and a stable climate.

Author Michelle Coles donated 52 signed copies of her acclaimed book for young people, Black Was the Ink, in support of our Teach Truth campaign.

Teachers and allies across the country pledged to teach truth on June 11 and 12, 2022. They made their pledges at historic sites to provide examples of the history that teachers would be required to lie about or omit if the GOP anti-history bills become law.

We invite educators, students, parents, and community members to rally across the country and pledge to #TeachTruth on June 11 and 12, 2022.

The Zinn Education Project hosts Teaching for Black Lives study groups each year.

Here are some of the sites that are hosting #TeachTruth Days of Action on June 11 and 12, 2022.