With the passing away of Howard Zinn on 27 January 2010, at the age of 87, the world has not only lost a legendary historian but an individual, whose commitment to social and economic justice, peace and internationalism, and passion for telling the truth, can be matched by few others.

While there are many qualities that made Howard Zinn so special, what made him very endearing to us was his generosity in putting those who met him for the first time at ease. He made everyone feel special, he paid attention to every word, replied personally to email requests; a tireless activist who made himself available for every good cause. In the process, he nurtured minds and hearts and souls around the world. Indeed the world has lost one of its best teachers.

In 2006, Howard authored the foreword of a report which was co-published by the Oakland Institute and Speak Out – Turning the Tide: Challenging the Right on Campus – where he called for the building of a broad-based and sustainable movement for progressive values on college campuses. He reminded the readers in his foreword that ‘far from being a haven from the outside world, the world of war, of famine, of racism and exploitation, the campus is an arena for ideological struggle, in which the stakes are far higher than grades and degrees and career choices. The crucial prize is the mind of the student, the values of the young, for on them depends the future of the nation, as the coming generation makes choices that decide life and death for not only people in our country, but men, women and children all over the world.’

While we mourn the loss of a friend, a dedicated activist and a superb human being, we at the Oakland Institute are committed to celebrating, sharing, and upholding all values and struggles that Howard Zinn stood for and believed in, as our tribute to America's true patriot and hero!

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* Howard Zinn, social activist, historian and playwright, passed away on 27 January 2010.
* This obituary was first published by the Oakland Institute, a policy think tank with a focus on increasing public participation and promoting fair debate on critical social, economic and environmental issues.
* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at Pambazuka News.