Howard Zinn was a very smart and famous man who liked to tell stories about history. He wanted to make sure that everyone knew all about the good and the bad things that happened in the past.
He wrote books that helped people think more about how some people had a really hard time in the past, like slaves and poor people. He also talked about how some people were in charge and had more power, like kings and rich people.
Howard Zinn taught people to think more carefully about what they read in history books and to ask themselves questions. He liked to ask questions like "Who wrote this story?" and "What might they be leaving out?"
Some people really liked Howard Zinn's ideas, and some didn't. But no matter what anyone thinks, Howard Zinn has helped many people understand more about the past and all the different things that happened in it.