ASSIGNMENT
Howard Zinn in A People’s History of the United States explains from what perspective (or bias, if you will) he chooses to write history. He also explains why he is doing that, and why that is one legitimate way in which to write history. Briefly recount his explanations, and offer an example of how he is doing that from a chapter of your choice in the book.

Response

Howard Zinn chose to write A People’s History of the United States from the point of view of the victims, the ones who suffered, and the ones who were oppressed, and in doing so presented history in a format that varied from the traditional way. The traditional presentation of history was a consciences (or not) effort to report history that showed the privileged, upper class, and their advancements and accomplishments.

An example during our American History when the progress and advancements are celebrated, yet the harsh “other side” is eliminated, is during the Civil War. Our American Troops are glorified, yet their dirty little secrets are never mentioned. One only needs to do a Google search for images of the “Boston Massacre” to see five white men being gunned down by the Red Coats. Little is ever mentioned about Crispus Attucks, the black man, because 5 white men being killed had more “shock” value and caused more rage in people then a black man. We have come to know that moment in time as the Boston Massacre. It is herald as a turning point of American History in a quest for establishing freedom from the “Mother” country and for Americans to “claim” this soil, but wasn’t it already claimed? Wasn’t it already being called home by Indians? This was where the real massacre occurred. They were beaten. Their tribes and villages were destroyed by fire. They were stolen from. And so Zinn, speaks of this cruelty, these unspeakable acts to a fellow human being. He tells their story, the story that the textbooks won’t dare tell. The story that most will never hear.