Historian, activist, and author Howard Zinn (1922-2010) lifted up the often-overlooked stories of everyday Americans, and through his writing brought the voices of workers and activists into the discourse on our nation’s history.  A scholar who taught at Spelman College and Boston University, Zinn is most well-known as the author of A People’s History of the United States, one of the best-selling U.S. history books of our day.

John J. Sweeney has spent decades advocating for workers’ rights, most recently serving for 14 years as president of the AFL-CIO. His leadership helped grow union membership and expand the dialogue on issues affecting working families.