Howard Zinn was an American historian, playwright, philosopher, socialist intellectual, and World War II veteran. He served as chair of the history and social sciences department at Spelman College, and was a political science professor at Boston University. Zinn authored over 20 books, with his most notable work being A People's History of the United States, published in 1980. A version for younger readers, A Young People's History of the United States, followed in 2007.

Zinn described himself as "something of an anarchist, something of a socialist. Maybe a democratic socialist." He extensively wrote about the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and the labor history of the United States. His memoir, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train, not only shared insights into his life and thoughts but also inspired a 2004 documentary about Zinn's life and work. He passed away from a heart attack in 2010, at the age of 87.