This year marks the 100th anniversary of Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922 – January 27, 2010). Howard Zinn is the author of 'A People's History of the United States.'
The Howard Zinn Organization is a great resource site. [howardzinn.org]
"Significant changes occur when social movements reach a critical point of power capable of moving cautious politicians beyond their tendency to keep things as they are — or when these movements, by direct action, bypass the political system and bring about change by acting directly on the obstacles to change."