Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922 - January 27, 2010) was an American (United States) historian, author, activist, playwright, intellectual and was a Professor of Political Science at Boston University from 1964 to 1988. He wrote more than 20 books, which included his best-selling and influential A Peoples History of the United States. Zinn also wrote extensively about the civil rights (African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)), civil liberties and anti-war (Peace movement) movements. His memoir, You Cant Be Neutral on a Moving Train, became the title of a 2004 documentary about Zinns life and work.