Historical revisionism and "A People's History of the United States"

[personman]

One of the criticisms often levelled at the late-great Howard Zinn's http://anarchismtoday.org/amazon/0060838655/A_People_s_History_of_the_United_States_1492_to_Present_P_S_.html">"A People's History of the United States" is that it is "revisionist history."

I think this is an unfair criticism. He does NOT rewrite history... He tells a history of the working and poor that was robbed from us in normal history education.

What are your thoughts on this? Is "A People's History..." a fraudulent, rewritten history? Or a previously untold story of the struggles of the people?

-Andy

[marmar]

1. It's actual history. Not whitewashed, "glory of war" , manifest destiny history.

nt

[personman]

17. One of the most important books an American can read.

To know what to do in the future requires some knowledge of what has been done in the past.

[tblue]

19. Should be required in schools. nt

[SusanaMontana41]

2. It's history from the bottom up, rather than from the top down.

That's what makes it so powerful.

Maybe the powerful think it's revisionist because it makes them uncomfortable?

I miss Howard Zinn.

[personman]

8. I miss him too.

I also worry about what kind of shit will get through when Chomsky is no longer with us... I'm a big Chomsky-ite.

I know there are left voices that will speak out, but it's hard to replicate the intellectual-authority of a Howard Zinn or a Noam Chomsky.

Howard Zinn was an amazing man. He not only told an untold history of the most of us, but he inspired other famous people to do so:

I love Viggo Mortenson, Sandra Oh, Eddie Vedder, Matt Damon, Danny Glover, Marisa Tomei, etc. Because they have played such a large role in helping to get these unheard voices in front of the people.

[SusanaMontana41]

28. Just keep speaking out. Ideas don't die. n/t

[Mojambo]

14. Exactly.n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Here is a little secret

there are many types of history. Howard zinn wrote POPULAR, bottom up history... the people leveling the charges tend to like elite, great man in history, writings.

I am doing history of labor, and Zinn is one of the people I will read.

His type of history is not very popular with the elites since it makes oh... George Washington, look like a less great man... and yes the Great Man in history is a school in writing history. Zinn is part of the new history school.

Damn I think I summarized what it took a semester in Graduate school.

:-)

For the 180 of Howards Zinn, Steele Commager is a good one.

[SusanaMontana41]

7. Another excellent post.

Not stalking you, nadin, but I am a fan ...

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. I know the difference, trust me on this

:hi:

[white_wolf]

4. I really need to read Howard Zinn's book.

Oh and if you really want to see revisionist history check out anything by David Barton.

[handmade34]

12. see my post #9

and start reading... yes we all should read it and more "people's history"

[personman]

18. You could easily find versions online.

Obviously I think if you are interested in the subjects, you should buy the book. But if you are poor or whatever, they are out there to be found. I could link places, but I don't want to get this post closed down.

Regarding David Barton... Sounds interesting in an ominous sort of way...

[white_wolf]

20. I found it on Amazon I'm going to order it later tonight.

As for Barton let me just say this: He's been called the historian of the tea party.

[personman]

22. If you order it though my link, it throws me a few bones.

I run and fund a website called AnarchismToday.org that stores many videos and article by Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn. If you order through me it helps fund my efforts.

Just figured I'd mention. No pressure, do what you want. :)

-Andy

[white_wolf]

23. I'll go with your link. Always happy to help out a good cause.

Besides Amazon gets enough of my money.

[personman]

24. Eh, unfortunately it's still amazon, but it atleast helps us. :) nt

[pnorman]

30. Thanks for that link!

I have "The Zinn Reader" for Kindle, and also his "Peoples History" in Audibled.com format. So I can read/hear both on my Android cell-phone.

[socialist_n_TN]

34. Yep, you do need to read that wolf..........

Also Naomi Klein's "Shock Doctrine-The Rise of Disaster Capitalism". Of course, my one criticism of Naomi's book is that it's ALL "disaster" capitalism. :)

[LoZoccolo]

5. I'd have to hear specific arguments about what was allegedly revised in order to determine that.

It's not unusual to emphasize certain patterns in a historical book, though.

[abq e streeter]

6. Agreed that he simply tells otherwise untold true history

My only issue with that book is that it's all through a narrow focus (but understandable considering the whitewashed crap that he was that he was providing an alternative to). Been awhile since I read it, but my memory is one of thinking it was too one sided even though it was on "my" side, like inferring that nothing good has ever happened in America that wasn't some worker's rebellion or something like that. Still an important book, and glad Zinn wrote it, and that I read it. Highly recommended even with my personal caveats.

[handmade34]

9. I taught history for a bit

history is an account of the past, a chronological record of significant events (says Merriam Webster), it is vast, it is messy and sometimes open to interpretation... some facts are very certain and public (those are easy and most agree), others we have to use logical and critical thinking to make sense of (these scare many folks) :shrug:

but Howard Zinn did not REWRITE history... (very foolish of anyone to claim this - foolish indeed)... Howard Zinn merely told a somewhat different story than the one CWM (conservative white men) wanted everyone to believe... I have a few good books sitting at home that I used to use that tell more of "the people's' story but I can't remember the titles nor author's names...


http://www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html

http://www.peopleshistory.us/

[MedicalAdmin]

10. A great, great book.

It has been critiqued because it is a book that wasn't written by the winners and "they" don't like that. I highly recommend it and have given away copies to graduating seniors for years. Gotta corrupt them young, no?

[glinda]

11. Hubby is a Historian. He gives it a thumbs up.

[handmade34]

13. Howdy Glinda

if you come buy my house, I'll throw all my history books in for your husband!! :fistbump:

edit to add that the photo is just the garage and I think I have 2 copies of "A People's History"

[glinda]

27. That would make three copies then! lol! Love the garage btw.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. He's slacking

Got an electronic copy and a hard copy

:hi:

[glinda]

38. lol!

:hi:

[bemildred]

15. There is nothing objective about history. Anybody can "rewrite" history.

There are certain professional standards, but Zinn's history is as good as anybodies.

[doublethink]

16. Howard Zinn's own words.....

"But there is no such thing as pure fact, innocent of interpretation. Beyond every fact presented to the world-by a teacher, a writer, anyone - is a judgment. The judgment that has been made is that this fact is important, and that other facts, omitted, are not important.

There were themes of profound importance to me which I found missing in the orthodox histories that dominated American culture. The consequence of those omissions has been not simply to give a distorted view of the past but, more important, to mislead us all about the present" .......

Howard Zinn, A Peoples History Of the United States 1492-Present (Afterword, page 684) ......

[AnOhioan]

21. Read it not too long ago...highly recommend it

As a poster above said...should be in every school in the country.

[struggle4progress]

25. It's a great book. Zinn tells some stories that have been forgotten, because ordinary people

lost their fight. I don't think Zinn thought the losing side was always composed only of saints with unquestionable views -- but rather that the fights were significant and that those who lost had a tale that deserved a hearing

[personman]

31. An old friend from school is now a history teacher, and is a big fan of "A People's History..." nt

[jtuck004]

32. I agree with you. One of the failures

of most of our history is that it is written in such a slanted way to support the power that is, well, in power. Sometimes everyone just lives with the lie that it is balanced, but it's really not. Zinn simply showed us what was left out.

Vilifying his work is just another way people try to cement their power. They are wrong. Where they can show a factual inaccuracy I would agree, but most times that's not what the criticism is.

It's too bad, really, because I think we would have a stronger and more secure nation if people acknowledged the history they stand on. Because you can't fix the problem unless you are willing to acknowledge it first.

I keep it on my bookshelf and re-read parts of it once in a while, (though lately I have been a bit too busy reading up on garlic :) )

[fishwax]

33. well, revisionist history needn't be a bad thing

Historical Revisionism != fraudulent history. In fact, re-examination of received wisdom and preconceived notions is a basic (and essential) part of the process of understanding history.

[Toucano]

36. Aw no! you mean we can't just repeat the same old lies forever and ever?

That's what made the country great!

[socialist_n_TN]

35. My thoughts? Along with Naomi Klein's book

It's one of the most important books written in the last 30 years or so.

[a la izquierda]

37. Great book...

and I have a PhD in History.
I much prefer Open Veins of Latin America by Galeano...but only because it's my field.