20th Century Archives

Italian American Who Fought for Justice - Viola Luizzo Family | Zinn Education Project: Teaching People's History

Liuzzo, Viola

Profile. Viola Liuzzo (April 11, 1925 – March 25, 1965), Civil Rights activist, was murdered in 1965 by the KKK after the Selma to Montgomery March.

The Rock and the River

Book — Fiction. By Kekla Magoon. 2010. 304 pages.
Coming-of-age story that shows the close connections between the civil rights and Black power movements through an intimate and relatable lens.

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba

Book — Fiction. By Margarita Engle. 2009. 208 pages.
Daniel has escaped Nazi Germany and must make his way in Cuba once New York turns away his ship full of refugees.

The Lincoln Brigade: A Picture History

Book — Non-fiction. By William Loren Katz and Marc Crawford. 2013. 196 pages.
Interviews, documents, and photos from the first fully integrated United States army, who volunteered to help Spain defend its democracy against fascism.

Teaching Activity by William Loren Katz

The Historic Unfulfilled Promise

Book — Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. 2012. 184 pages.
Compilation of articles Zinn penned for The Progressive magazine from 1980 to 2009.

We as Freemen: Plessy v. Ferguson

Book — Non-fiction. By Keith Medley. 2012. 256 pages.
This book documents the untold history of the organizing leading up the Plessy v. Ferguson case.

The Autobiography of Medgar Evers: A Hero’s Life and Legacy Revealed Through His Writings, Letters, and Speeches

Book — Non-fiction. By Manning Marable and Myrlie Evers-Williams. 2006. 400 pages.
Comprehensive collection of the words of slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers.

Helen Keller: Rebellious Spirit

Book — Non-fiction. By Laurie Lawlor. 2001. 176 pages.
A biography that sheds light on Helen Keller as rebel and activist.

Tulsa Burning

Book — Fiction. By Anna Myers. 2004. 152 pages.
A young man must wrestle with his past and find the strength to pull free from the poisonous grip of racism.

The Dreamer

Book — Fiction. By Pam Muñoz Ryan. 2010. 384 pages.
An introduction to the life of Pablo Neruda as a child in historical fiction for young adults.

The Sky’s the Limit: People v. Newton, The REAL Trial of the 20th Century?

Book — Non-fiction. By Lise Pearlman. 2012. 800 pages.
Brings to life 20th century court cases and protests that played a major role in U.S. history.

Attica Prison Uprising

Resource list. Overview with links to articles, books, primers, films, and websites about the Attica Prison Uprising for the classroom.

Jan. 28, 1917: The Bath Riots

A protest of the toxic chemical “baths” required for all workers coming across the U.S.-Mexico border, led by 17-year-old Carmelita Torres.

The Untold History of the United States

Book — Non-fiction. By Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick. 2012. 784 pages.
Challenge the prevailing orthodoxies of traditional history books in this look at the U.S. history of empire building.

Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.

Book — Non-fiction. By Luis J. Rodriguez. 2005. 288 pages.
Memoir about a young Chicano gang member surviving the dangerous streets of East Los Angeles.

The Politics of History

Book — Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. 1990. 408 pages.
A series of case studies and thought-provoking essays arguing for a radical approach to history.

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks

Book — Non-fiction. By Jeanne Theoharis. 2013. 320 pages.
A revealing window into Rosa Parks’ politics and years of activism.

A Review of ‘42’: Jackie Robinson’s Bitter Pill

Article. By Dave Zirin. 2013.
Dave Zirin describes how 42 limits the story to a tale of “individual triumph through singular greatness,” ignoring the social movements and broader context of the time.

Roots of Justice: Stories of Organizing in Communities of Color

Book — Non-fiction. By Larry Salomon. Introduction by Kim Klein. 1998. 176 pages.
Stories of people who fought back against exploitation and injustice — and won.

Death in a Promised Land: The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921

Book — Non-fiction. By Scott Ellsworth. 1992. 159 pages.
A compelling story of racial ideologies, Southwestern politics, and yellow journalism, and of an embattled Black community's struggle to hold onto its land and freedom.

If We Must Die: A Novel of Tulsa’s 1921 Greenwood Riot

Book — Fiction. By Pat Carr. 2002. 166 pages.
Historical fiction account of the 1921 attack on Tulsa's Black neighborhood Greenwood, known as "Black Wall Street."

June 12, 1937: Oliver Law Became Brigade Commander

Oliver Law became first Black commander of a U.S. army, the integrated Abraham Lincoln Brigade.

Pentagon Papers collage | Zinn Education Project

Camouflaging the Vietnam War: How Textbooks Continue to Keep the Pentagon Papers a Secret

Article. By Bill Bigelow. 2013. If We Knew Our History Series. While new U.S. history textbooks mention the Pentagon Papers, none grapples with the actual import of the Pentagon Papers.

Teaching Activity by Bill Bigelow