2. Zinn’s Bias
“Arawak men and women, naked, tawny, and full of wonder emerged from their villages
onto the island's beaches and swam out to get a closer look at the strange big
boat,” (Zinn, 1980).
He makes it seem like a huge deal that the Indians wanted to see the big boat.
3. Zinn’s Bias
“For their hospitality, their belief in sharing, These traits did
not stand out in the Europe of the Renaissance” (Zinn, 1980)
He described them as being very giving which implies them
being naive, he also points out their un-importance.
4. Noble Savage
“For their hospitality, their belief in
sharing.”(Zinn, 1980).
Zinn believed these people were extraordinary, but
he was only out to use them because he thinks
that they are stupid. He coerces them to help him
and service him when in the end he ruins things
for the people that helped him.
5. Noble Savage
“These traits did not stand out in the Europe of the
Renaissance” (Zinn, 1980)
Zinn thought of these traits like they were unfamiliar to him,
like he’d never seen kindness shown. And that proves the
bias in itself.
6. Conclusion
Howard Zinn’s account of Columbus’ discovery of America is biased even as it
tries to correct a prior bias, because Zinn’s interpretation utilizes the myth of the
Noble Savage.
7. Bibliography
Zinn, Howard. "A People's History of the United States." History Is A Weapon. History Is A Weapon, 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. <http://
www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html>.
