If you don't know Howard Zinn's work, you should. At least read yourself at least 50 pages of his book, People's History of the United States. You will be enlightened. (You can purchase it below.)
History usually tells the story of the powerful, of wars, of great intellects, of popular athletes and celebrities. History shines a light on those who fly above the hazy smoke that haunts the human hive.
History rarely tells us about regular folks. It rarely tells about workers fighting for better lives, for fair treatment, for moral principles. It rarely tells us about powerful institutions murdering the leaders of the low and luckless.
Zinn helped balance the scales of justice just a bit.
YouTube remembrance of Howard Zinn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjn6rwKryWUTwo interviews with Howard Zinn:
http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/01/listening-back-to-howard-zinnArticle Remembrances:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100215/zinn/single
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/30/opinion/30herbert.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-green/remembering-howard-zinn_b_439541.html
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/522763/howard_zinn_the_historian_who_made_history
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan/29/howard-zinn-obituary
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/28/howard-zinn-america
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/29/howard-zinn-history-activismHoward Zinn on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=subwDAZtEN0 (On human nature and aggression)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BydZv9ykJU (Interviewed by Woody Harrelson)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mebqz79O6AA (Taxes are a class discussion)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUBYI97cUgU (We can't say bad things about 3 U.S. wars)
Book: People's History of the United States
DVD: Recent Documentary about Howard Zinn (with Matt Damon and others)