Jamasha HudsonClass #14003April 3, 2014

Howard Zinn’s, A

People’s History of

the United States,

starts off with a

story with the

journey of

Christopher

Columbus with the

indigenous people

of the Carribbean.

Chapter 1: Columbus, the Indians and Human Progress

Howard Zinn relays that this

perspective outlines the behavior

of the Europeans as well as the

Europeans descendants for

centuries to come. The primary

factor in the take over or

conquest for the new world was

idea of exploitation of people,

cultural difference, and of

resources. The conquerors and

the settlers of Europe were very

assertive and would use many

harsh tactics on people whose

perspective did not supports the

ideals of mass punishment, labor,

or even conquest. (Zinn, p.5)

Chapter 1: Columbus, the Indians and Human Progress

In Chapter Two,

African slave

trade was

expanded by the

Europeans

because of their

powers.

Chapter Two: Drawing the Color Line

The slaves didn’t just

allow supremacy over

them without a fight. By

the early 1700’s, there

were about 250 reports of

African slaves organizing

attacks against slave

authorities and slave

owners. (Zinn p.37) The

slave owning organization

reiterated the racial

differences among

Africans and Europeans in

order to engrave the idea

of white dominance and

superiority.

Chapter Two: Drawing the Color Line

The English colonies

had been victim to

the economically

disadvantages people

from the British Isles

and other parts such

as England and

Ireland by the

1730’s.

Chapter 3: Persons of Mean and Vile Condition

The rush of poor

whites aided to the

increasing tensions

during the years

before the Revolution.

This influx of poor

whites led to growing

tensions in the years

before the Revolution.

Poor whites in the

South could be

excluded from

advancing up in the

social ladder (Zinn,

p.47).

Chapter 3: Persons of Mean and Vile Condition

The years before the

American Revolution

were raging for

various amounts of

reasons. The Colonies

began to grow rapidly,

and England was in

desperate need of

Americas’ tax

revenue, natural

resources, as well as

land elites (Zinn, p.

60-62)

Chapter Four: Tyranny is Tyranny

Conflict involved among

the lower class in the

colonies and the elites in

the colonies. This

conflict began to emerge

the idea for movement

for independence from

Britain. The

Declaration of

Independence was

written in 1776. The

Declaration of

Independence includes

the promotion of slavery.

Chapter Four: Tyranny is Tyranny

In the 1850’s,

slavery became an

issue and really

reached a boiling

point.

Chapter 9: Slavery without Submission, Emancipation without Freedom

Harriet Tubman

and her

Underground

Railroad discovery

system helped

southern slaves

escape to Canada

and the North

(Zinn, p.171)

Chapter 9: Slavery without Submission, Emancipation without Freedom

Grijalva is a Latin American and possess great concerns on immigration reforms. He believes that while this country has done a great deal to increase defense and security, the government is not trying

to help the undocumented people who are in America. Congressman Grijalva speaks about

children, who with no fault of their own are now living in the United States, have no possibility for

economic prosperity after high school because they are illegal. He mentions the Dream Act which is the

solution to helping implement these children into the society, but also mentions how the government

is limiting the power of the Dream Act.

Congressman Grijalva

Felipe made jokes about growing up in poverty and how it affected him, and although it was funny he

was still faced with discrimination.  Instead of being called just a comedian Felipe was called

a Latino or Mexican Comedian.  Without all of this Felipe still embrace his race and states, "I grew up

in the Housing projects of Pico Gardens, Aliso Village and Pico Aliso. The only reason I don’t shy of being Mexican is because look at me! I’m not a

guero; I’m not light skinned like you! It will be hard for me to say that I’m not Mexican. I don’t

have hold a tamal on my hand, people know when they see me." 

Felipe Esparza

“Republicans hate Latinos,” was a statement that the Presidential Medal of Freedom Winner, Dolores Huerta,  said that not only caused a lot of controversy, but the statement actually led to a law being passed. Huerta made this comment when she was a guest speaker at a classroom to discuss the walkouts that were happening. The comment that Dolores Huerta made seemed like it caused issues in Arizona.  The reason was because they tried to fire the teacher of the school and the principal. Following that the state of Arizona legislature passed a law stating that speakers have to be cleared before the can go to school.   In response to this action, Republicans quickly took action and immediately tried to protect themselves by attacking Huerta's statement.  Many students covered their mouth with duck tape, turned their backs to the Republican speaker, and refused to answer any question in support to Dolores Huerta.

Dolores Huerta

Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States: 1492-2001. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

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