On Thompson, Howard Zinn, and Rebuilding the Labor Movement from Below

Doing History from the Bottom Up: On E.P. Thompson, Howard Zinn, and Rebuilding the Labor Movement from Below

by Staughton Lynd

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	673 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	202 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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In his book **On Thompson, Howard Zinn, and Rebuilding the Labor Movement from Below**, author John Russo argues that the work of historian and activist Howard Zinn is essential for understanding the history of the labor movement and for building a more just future.

Russo begins by examining Zinn's early life and work. Zinn was born in 1922 to a working-class family in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up during the Great Depression and witnessed firsthand the struggles of working people. After graduating from college, Zinn served in the U.S. Army during World War II. His experiences during the war radicalized him, and he became a lifelong advocate for peace and social justice.

After the war, Zinn returned to New York City and began teaching history at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. He quickly gained a reputation as a gifted teacher and a brilliant scholar. In 1957, he published his first book, **La Guardia in Congress**, a biography of the progressive mayor of New York City.

In the 1960s, Zinn became increasingly involved in the civil rights movement. He participated in the March on Washington in 1963 and helped to organize the Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964. He also wrote extensively about the civil rights movement, including his book **The Southern Mystique** (1964).

In the 1970s, Zinn turned his attention to the labor movement. He published **The Politics of History** (1970),a collection of essays on the relationship between history and politics, and **Postwar America: 1945-1971** (1973),a history of the United States during the Cold War.

In 1980, Zinn published his most famous book, **A People's History of the United States**. The book was a critical and commercial success, and it has since been translated into more than 20 languages. **A People's History** is a bottom-up history of the United States, told from the perspective of the working class, the poor, and the oppressed. The book has been praised for its clear and engaging prose, its rigorous scholarship, and its commitment to social justice.

In the 1990s, Zinn continued to write and speak out on behalf of progressive causes. He was a vocal opponent of the Gulf War and the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He also wrote extensively about the history of the labor movement, including his book **The Zinn Reader: Writings on History, Politics, and People** (1999).

Zinn died in 2010 at the age of 87. He left behind a legacy of scholarship and activism that continues to inspire people around the world.

In **On Thompson, Howard Zinn, and Rebuilding the Labor Movement from Below**, Russo argues that Zinn's work is essential for understanding the history of the labor movement and for building a more just future. Russo examines Zinn's writings on the labor movement, his involvement in labor organizing, and his influence on labor activists. Russo also argues that Zinn's work is relevant to the contemporary labor movement, which is facing new challenges in the face of globalization, automation, and the rise of the gig economy.

**On Thompson, Howard Zinn, and Rebuilding the Labor Movement from Below** is a valuable contribution to the literature on the labor movement and on Howard Zinn. Russo's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the labor movement, the work of Howard Zinn, or the future of social justice in the United States.

Doing History from the Bottom Up: On E.P. Thompson, Howard Zinn, and Rebuilding the Labor Movement from Below

by Staughton Lynd

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	673 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	202 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE