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Howard Zinn, the modern historian most responsible for helping regular people understand U.S. history... differently, died last week. His most well-read book, "A People's History of the United States," presented a more complex history than most books before it, in which extraordinary people who were ignored are lifted up, and the flaws of lionized men are exposed. I recieved an email written by an activist and friend of Zinn's named Eric Mann. He wrote, in part: ...as a footnote, it is commendable that so many of the most militant anti-racist whites are Jewish, as Howard (and I) are. When I was at BU, the key to my organizing was the opportunity to guest lecture at 500-person classes taught by Howard and another professor, Murray Levin. With Howard and Murray’s blessing, I spoke about Revolution and SDS 101. Levin, another faculty giant at the time, was Jewish--as were civil rights martyrs Mickey Schwerner and Andy Goodman, who were killed in 1964 with Black Mississippi native James Chaney. The historic and powerful relationship between Blacks and Jews in US Left history is an under-reported and interesting footnote to a far broader history--but one, with the passing of Howard Zinn, that is still worth noting.
I don't know much about how Zinn related to his Jewish identity, but as the excerpt above makes clear, it did not go unnoticed by others. Some Jews enjoy pointing out which Jews excell at sports; I prefer noting how many Jews excell at social change activism. For more on Zinn from a Jewish perspective, check out Shalom Rav.
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