Howard Zinn died from a heart attack yesterday. He was 87.

I had the great honor of meeting Howard Zinn in 2003 when I was in production with my first documentary Liberty Bound. Just until a few years before this, I’m ashamed to say, I really didn’t know who he was. I had recently gotten involved in politics (late 1999), and that’s when I first heard of this remarkable man.

I had taken the train from CA to MA to interview him, after contacting him via his old Boston University email. I was a little more than surprised he agreed to the interview. After all, he was a huge figure in leftist politics and a renowned historian and author, but that’s who Howard was: a kind, gentle man who did everything he could to promote knowledge of that which is little-known and to shine light on hidden injustice to the people of the USA and the world, even if it was through a idealistic, unknown, independent filmmaker like me.

I was quite nervous during the interview, at first, but Howard quickly put me at ease with his understated and humble presence. When he spoke, which was always softly with a literal twinkle in his eye, everything else stopped. Even when speaking about the most horrific events of human history, he did so calmly with insightful elegance.

After the interview, I found it difficult to edit out anything Zinn had said. It all was quite relevant and eloquently spoken. More than a few people have told me that my interview with Zinn was among the best they had seen. Unfortunately, very few people saw my film.

Zinn did. And he congratulated me on a job well done.

We stayed in touch over the years, and he helped me set up an interview or two for my second documentary Internationally Speaking. He even wrote a letter of recommendation for UT Grad School when I had briefly considered going back for my PhD.

I still have that letter. Unopened with his signature scrawled across the back.

It’s among my most cherished possessions.

If you haven’t yet done so, I think all citizens of the US (and the world) should read his masterpiece People’s History of the United States. As any thinker knows, history is written by the winners, and the point of writing is down is as much about documenting events as covering up (or downplaying) mistakes and embarrassments.

A People’s History of the United States is the exact opposite. This is history from the POV of the losers. The down-trodden. The persecuted.

It had me crying uncontrollably and utterly horrified by page 6.

Hard truths often have that result.

Howard Zinn dedicated his life to easing the suffering of others. He spoke for those who could not speak for themselves. He fought bravely in WWII. He protested injustice and refused to stay silent when Civil Rights were violated, and he encouraged others to do the same.

The world is more than just a little bit better because of this exceptional man’s life and work.

If only all of us could make such a claim.

He will be greatly missed.

Some other articles & sites on his life:

Boston Globe

NY Times

Howard Zinn 1922-2010