News - Zinn Education Project

A letter dating back to the Reconstruction era

New Reconstruction Lesson with Dozens of Primary Documents

A new lesson offers dozens of primary source documents to help students explore the Reconstruction era.

Teaching in Dangerous Times

Right wing politicians and media outlets are attacking educators’ most basic responsibility — to teach young people accurately and truthfully. Officials in at least 42 states have sought — and in many cases succeeded — to enact restrictions on what teachers can say about history and current events.

Staughton Lynd, ¡Presente!

People's historian Staughton Lynd died on Nov. 17 after an extraordinary life as a conscientious objector, peace activist and civil rights activist, tax resister, professor, author, and lawyer.

“We Return Fighting”: The Black Freedom Struggle During WWII

Matt Delmont shared stories from his new book, Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad. This session was part of the Zinn Education Project’s Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

Queen Mother Moore, Black Nationalism, and the Centuries-Long Fight for Reparations

Author Ashley Farmer was in conversation with Cierra Kaler-Jones about Queen Mother Audley Moore (1898–1997), one of the most influential activists and thinkers of the 20th century. This session is part of the Zinn Education Project’s Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

Howard Zinn Centennial

The year 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of Howard Zinn’s birth on August 24, 1922, in Brooklyn. Although Howard died in 2010, his work continues to inform and inspire educators around the world.

From Florida to Oregon: Reconstruction Throughout the United States

Most state standards and textbooks frame Reconstruction as a Southern story, but grassroots struggles for justice met resistance in the North and to the west. That is why one of the recommendations in our report, Erasing the Black Freedom Struggle is to “Emphasize the significance of Reconstruction throughout the United States.”

New SNCC Digital Movement History Platform Launches

The SNCC Legacy Project launched a new digital platform featuring videos, music, stories, reports, bios, photos, interviews, panels, and other materials of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

People’s History Sessions at NCSS

The Zinn Education Project will have a booth in the exhibit area and we are offering a number of workshops at the National Council for the Social Studies Conference in Philadelphia from December 2–4, 2022.

“Power of the People” Howard Zinn Centennial Ice Cream

In commemoration of Howard Zinn’s 100th birthday, the Baltimore-based Taharka Brothers released a “Power of the People” ice cream flavor.

Vincent Harding Tribute to Howard Zinn

Historian Vincent Harding shared memories of Howard Zinn at the SNCC 50th Anniversary Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina in April 2010.

Howard Zinn Centennial Teaching About the Red Scare Workshop

The Howard Zinn Centennial week of activities launched with a teacher workshop on the Red Scare since the same tactics are being used today to thwart the teaching of people's history. Teachers from around the country were introduced to the Zinn Education Project mixer lesson about the Red Scare.

Alaina Roberts on Black Freedom on Native Land

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.

Teach Jackson, Teach Climate Justice

Resources for teaching about the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi and its connections to the history of white supremacy and the global climate crisis.

Banned Books Week: Defend the Right to Study People’s History

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.

Lessons for How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith

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.

Howard Zinn Centennial Week Events

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.

Radicalizing the Archives: Howard Zinn Centennial Event

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

A People’s History Stories

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.

People’s History Commemoration of Howard Zinn’s 100th Anniversary

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.

People’s Historian: Lerone Bennett Jr.

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.

Teaching People’s History Is Under Attack

This year, back-to-school season arrives with continued attacks on teachers and bans on accurate history. Challenging traditions of white supremacy was central to Reconstruction and still is today, as the Right tries to quell surges in democracy and justice.

Prentiss Charney Teacher Fellows

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.

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks Documentary Releases in October

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.

There Is Power in Numbers

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.

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