For some students, high school history can be a drag. But some schools and teachers mix things up from the standard lesson plans. One alternative is to teach from Howard Zinn’s seminal 1980 work A People’s History of the United States.

Actor Matt Damon is a fan of the book and actually grew up next to Zinn in Boston. He’s executive producer of the film The People Speak, based on Zinn’s book.

Damon joined other performers Tuesday night at the Metro in Chicago for The People Speak, Live! featuring Chicagoans reading from Zinn’s work. Earlier that day, he and rapper Lupe Fiasco visited Englewood High School to talk with students involved in the project.

Damon started by telling Tony Sarabia about the project’s collaboration with the school.