Hypocrisy that exists between the wording of the U.S. Constitution and the actions of the U.S. Government in supporting slavery, segregation, the military industrial complex, and corporate interests is the central theme of Dr. Zinn's works, and his life's work in protestation of these perceived injustices.
Dr. Howard Zinn was one of the first American authors to write a comprehensive history of the barriers erected by the U.S. Government to prevent equality and constitutionally guaranteed rights amongst the working classes and minority races, and the subsequent violent clashes between protestors, the government, and corporate soldiers.