A People’s History of the United States, 1492-Present

Arawak men and women, naked, tawny, and full of wonder, emerged from their villages onto the island’s beaches and swam out to get a closer look at the strange big boat. When Columbus and his sailors came ashore, carrying swords, speaking oddly, the Arawaks ran to greet them, brought them food, water, gifts.

In “A People’s History of the United States,” Howard Zinn presents an alternative narrative of American history, shifting focus from elite perspectives to the experiences and struggles of marginalized groups, including Native Americans, African Americans, women, laborers, and immigrants. Spanning from Columbus’ arrival to the 1970s, Zinn’s account challenges traditional notions of American exceptionalism, revealing a history marked by colonialism, slavery, class struggle, imperialism, and resistance.

In “A People’s History of the United States,” Howard Zinn presents an alternative narrative of American history, focusing on the experiences and struggles of marginalized groups, including Native Americans, women, African Americans, laborers, and immigrants. Challenging traditional accounts, Zinn argues that the US has been shaped by ongoing class struggle, imperialist expansion, and resistance from […]