Today I had an incredible interview with Professor Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States, social activist, and historian. I’ve always highly regarded Zinn’s work, and wanted to interview him on his experiences with fear and his involvement in the Civil Right’s and Anti-War movements.
He told me about the turbulent times he went through in the South, as de-segregation slowly transformed the landscape and how his visibility within the movement increased his chances of arrest. He also gave his perspective on the mis-use of fear tactics by the American government and their injection of fear into society as a means of control and limitation on the American people.
Perhaps the one thing that really hit home was Zinn’s understanding that collectivity reduces fear-doing things together with people and working toward a common goal gives you the courage to move through the fears.
Into his eighties, Zinn continues to speak and lecture around the world, dropping knowledge about what should be inside the history books in our schools.
Want to learn about history and fear? Best listen to someone who’s lived it.
Tags: blog, fear.less, howard zinn, interviewee