The Rebirth Of White Rage

The podcast explores how fear has become a powerful force in American life, shaping policy and excusing violence, through the lens of the 1984 Bernhard Goetz shooting. Heather Ann Thompson, historian and author of "Fear and Fury," discusses how Goetz, who shot four black teenagers on a New York subway, became a celebrated figure, reflecting a turning point where white racial fear was sanctioned. The conversation highlights the economic conditions and racial resentment of the Reagan era that fueled the public's response to the shooting. Thompson also addresses the media's role in vilifying the young men and normalizing violence, drawing parallels to contemporary cases like George Zimmerman and Daniel Penny.