Howard Zinn’s class on class

13/Feb/2007 16:39
Howard Zinn, author of the best-selling A people’s history of the United States, is a class act—in every sense of the word. He is funny, charming, articulate, and so smart. He is also a class warrior.
His main message to us: history is the story of class conflict, just as Karl Marx said. Union leaders have to understand the importance of class, he said, if we want to make a real difference. We have to understand that (ruling) class interests are behind every decision by governments, employers, and corporations—and that these interests are opposite to the interests of the working class. Those in power want to deceive us into thinking we are a classless society. They want to fool us into thinking we have common interests. But be very skeptical of such claims. History has shown them to be false.

The full recording of Zinn’s time with us is posted below as a pod cast. (Hopefully, those of you who had trouble downloading my Chomsky tapes will have an easier time with this one.)

For those who don’t have the time to listen to the full 75 minutes, get a taste of Zinn by clicking on the 12-minute audio file posted below-- the best 12 minutes of the entire six-week program.

And, by the way, here’s a gift idea. Zinn’s people’s history is now available as an audio book with Matt Damon helping out with the narration. It’s an updated edition of the original classic and covers the Clinton years. It’s a fantastic listen.

12 minutes of Howard Zinn on class:
Zinn on class history

For the full Zinn lecture and discussion (75 minutes) click here:

Podcast
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