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January 27, 2010  Howard Zinn, historian, author and activist suffered a heart attack and died while traveling in California Wednesday. He was 87.

Dr. Zinn, a former professor at Boston University was best known for his book, "A People's History of the United States", which presented an alternate view to how typical American history textbooks portray the American experience.

The book entered popular culture when it was hailed in the film, "Good Will Hunting". Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were neighbors and friends of Zinn growing up. "Howard had a great mind and was one of the great voices in the American political life," states Ben Affleck. "He taught me how valuable -- how necessary -- dissent was to democracy and to America itself. He taught that history was made by the everyman, not the elites. I was lucky enough to know him personally and I will carry with me what I learned from him -- and try to impart it to my own children -- in his memory."

He was also the author of "The Politics of History" (1970); "Postwar America" (1973); "Justice in Everyday Life" (1974); and "Declarations of Independence" (1990).

Zinn was a champion of activism during the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam war and continued to inspire thousands to fight the status quo during the Bush administration. He was a remarkable man, and true citizen of democracy and he will surely be missed.

Read more about Howard Zinn.