The Worthy House (Charles Haywood) cover image

The Worthy House (Charles Haywood)

Days of Rage: America's Radical Underground, the FBI, and the Forgotten Age of Revolutionary Violence (Bryan Burrough)

Sep 4, 2024
Bryan Burrough, a noted author on American radicalism, delves into the forgotten era of Leftist violence in the 1970s. He explores how radical movements like the Weathermen and the Black Liberation Army emerged, driven by ideals tied to racial justice. Burrough discusses the internal fractures within these groups and the complexities of documenting their underground activities. The conversation shifts to the legacy of violence from these movements and contrasts public responses to terrorism then and now, provoking thought on how history shapes today’s societal fears.
48:21

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast explores the radical left's violent campaign in the 1970s, emphasizing its stark contrast to the romanticized narrative of the 1960s.
  • It highlights the ideological motivations behind the extremists' actions, revealing their belief in creating a utopian society despite historical failures.

Deep dives

The History of Left-Wing Violence in America

The episode delves into the historical context of radical left-wing violence in America during the 1970s, highlighting a coordinated campaign that resulted in thousands of bombings, notably with two thousand occurring in just 1972. The discussion emphasizes that these actions were seen by many radicals as a means to instigate revolutionary change, despite historical evidence suggesting such tactics rarely lead to significant societal transformation. The narrative challenges the mainstream memory of the 1960s, which is often romanticized within leftist circles, contrasted starkly with the violence that unfolded in the next decade. It suggests that while the left has continued to dominate certain cultural narratives, the reality of their violent tactics remains largely obscured in historical accounts.

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