Democracy & Citizenship Archives

The First American Revolution: Before Lexington and Concord

Book — Non-fiction. By Ray Raphael. 2003. 288 pages.
The events leading up to the American Revolution.

Ballots for Belva: The True Story of a Woman’s Race for the Presidency

Picture book. By Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. Illustrated by Courtney E. Martin. 2008. 32 pages.
Biography of Belva Lockwood who ran for president in 1884.

The People Speak (Film) | Zinn Education Project: Teaching People's History

The People Speak – Extended Edition – DVD

Film. Directed by Howard Zinn, Chris Moore, and Anthony Arnove. 2009. 110 minutes.
Dramatic readings and performances based on Voices of a People's History and A People's History of the United States.

A People’s History of the United States: Highlights from the Twentieth Century (Audio)

Audio. By Howard Zinn. Read by Matt Damon. 2003. 8 hours, 44 minutes.
Audio book version of excerpted highlights from A People's History of the United States.

Chisholm ’72 – Unbought and Unbossed

Film. By Shola Lynch. 2004. 76 minutes.
Documentary about Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and her campaign to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in 1972.

Americans Who Tell the Truth

Website. Portraits by Robert Shetterly and biographies of individuals who have taken a stand for justice.

Right to Ride: Streetcar Boycotts and African American Citizenship in the Era of Plessy v. Ferguson

Book — Non-fiction. By Blair L. M. Kelley. 2010. 280 pages.
Examines acts of protest and resistance to segregated trains and streetcars during the early Jim Crow era.

Solidarity Divided: The Crisis in Organized Labor and A New Path Toward Social Justice

Book — Non-fiction. By Bill Fletcher Jr. and Fernando Gapasin 2009. 304 pages.
A critical examination of labor's current crisis and a plan for social justice in the 21st century.

Teaching Activity by Bill Fletcher Jr.

Heroes of the Environment: True Stories of People Who Are Helping to Protect Our Planet

Book — Non-fiction. By Harriet Rohmer. 2009. 109 pages.
Presents the true stories of 12 people across North America who are challenging environmental devastation. Written for middle school readers.

Teaching Global History: A Social Studies Approach

Book — Non-fiction. By Alan J. Singer. 2011. 206 pages.
A guide that proposes another way to teach history from a global perspective.

Bill Moyers Journal: The Conversation Continues

Book — Non-fiction. By Bill Moyers and edited by Michael Winship. 2011. 608 pages.
Fifty interviews with political figures, writers, activists, poets, and scholars.

Frederick Douglass | Zinn Education Project

Frederick Douglass: “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Frederick Douglass' speech "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" (1852) is read by Danny Glover.

Sept. 11, 2001: Orlando and Phyllis Rodriguez: “Not In Our Son’s Name”

Orlando and Phyllis Rodriguez spoke out against using September 11, 2001 as a pretext for war.

Sam Cooke: A Change is Gonna Come

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" (1964), is performed by Allison Moorer.

Yuri Kochiyama | Zinn Education Project: Teaching People's History

Yuri Kochiyama: “Then Came the War”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Yuri Kochiyama's "Then Came the War" (1991) by Deepa Fernandes.

Bartolomé de Las Casas: “Devastation of the Indies: A Brief Account”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Bartolome de las Casas' "Devastation of the Indies: A Brief Account" (1542) by John Sayles, Viggo Mortensen, and Staceyann Chin.

Malcolm X: “Message to the Grass Roots”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Malcolm X's "Message to the Grass Roots" (1963) by Mos Def.

Chief Joseph: “Account of His Trip to Washington, D.C.”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Chief Joseph's "Account of His Trip to Washington, D.C." (1879) by Q'Orianka Kilcher.

Howard Zinn on Race

Book — Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. Introduction by Cornel West. 2011. 192 pages.
Includes some never before published writings, speeches and interviews that illustrate the evolution and fundamental principles around the story of race in the United States.

Howard Zinn on History

Book — Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. Introduction by Staughton Lynd. 2011. 192 pages.
A collection of 27 writings on activism, electoral politics, the Holocaust, Marxism, the Iraq War, and the role of the historian.

Henry McNeal Turner: “Eligibility of Colored Members to Seats in the Georgia Legislature”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Henry McNeal Turner's "Eligibility of Colored Members to Seats in the Georgia Legislature" (1868), read by Danny Glover.

Langston Hughes: “Ballad of Roosevelt”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Langston Hughes' "Ballad of Roosevelt" (1934) by Danny Glover.

The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World

Book — Non-fiction. By John Carlos and Dave Zirin. Foreword by Cornel West. 2011. 220 pages.
Written for grades 7+, this biography of John Carlos recounts his childhood, his legendary act of courage at the '68 Olympics, and the backlash.

Teaching Activity by Dave Zirin

collage of six Black abolitionists in the United States.

‘If There Is No Struggle…’: Teaching a People’s History of the Abolition Movement

Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. Rethinking Schools. 16 pages.
In this lesson, students explore many of the real challenges faced by abolitionists with a focus on the American Anti-Slavery Society.

Teaching Activity by Bill Bigelow

Learning About the Unfairgrounds: A 4th-Grade Teacher Introduces Her Students to Executive Order 9066

Teaching Activity. By Katie Baydo-Reed. Rethinking Schools. 10 pages.
Students hold a mixer and a mock trial in preparation for reading literature about internment.

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