Worker and Parasite Days of Rage by Bryan Burrough
Nov 6, 2025
The fascinating journey through the 1970s radical underground reveals the chaos of groups like the Weather Underground and SLA. Discover the motivations behind their actions, from black militancy to ideological criminality. The discussion dives into Malcolm X's impact, the FBI's divisive tactics, and the Weatherman's Ivy League origins. Patty Hearst's notorious kidnapping and the SLA's cult-like behavior add dramatic flair. The podcast contrasts past radicalism with today’s extremism, exploring media influences and the dangers of silencing debate.
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Status And Authenticity Drove Many White Radicals
- 1970s underground groups blended genuine grievance with performative status-seeking.
- Many white radicals sought black militancy as authenticity rather than strategic leadership.
A Compressed Burst Of Revolutionary Violence
- The book shows multiple overlapping strands: Weather Underground, BLA, SLA, FALN.
- Their peak activity compresses into a short, chaotic burst around 1970–1975.
Weatherman's Rise, Townhouse Explosion, And Decline
- Weatherman emerged from SDS and quickly collapsed after dramatic errors like the townhouse explosion.
- The group burned bridges with the wider movement and spent years trying to reclaim relevance.
