Events

This week the Center for Global Justice honors two life-long activists for social justice:  historian Howard Zinn and folk singer Pete Seeger.  Since its publication in 1980, Howard Zinn’s  A People’s History of the United States has opened the eyes of millions to the role of ordinary people in the making of our nation’s history.  His message was that history doesn’t come from great men, it comes from the bottom up and it comes from their struggle.  As Naomi Klein has observed, “he told people to believe in themselves and their power to change the world,” a message especially relevant at the present moment. 

This message is dramatized in the film The People Speak, which uses some of the historical letters, diaries and speeches of ordinary Americans who, through their words and actions, changed the course of our nation.  Originally broadcast on the History Channel, this film was written and co-directed by Zinn shortly before his death.  Its readings and music is performed by a star-studded cast from Danny Glover and Morgan Freeman to Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.  It brings alive popular struggles at key moments of U.S. history.  This certainly isn’t the way most of us were taught history in high school.

Pete Seeger needs no introduction.  As composer and performer of folk music, his has been an active voice in most of the social struggles of the 20th century in the labor, peace, civil rights and environmental movements  The PBS documentary Pete Seeger: The Power of Song traces his life and music.  He wrote such classics as“Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “Guantanamera,” “If I Had A Hammer,” “Turn Turn Turn,” and “We Shall Overcome.”  Such songs have inspired millions.  They demonstrate that you can be a dissident and still love your country, indeed, if you love it you have to protest in the name of justice.  You’ll leave the theater with his music ringing in your head and in your heart.