WNYC Studios
The Takeaway
Podcast
Many people—from journalists on cable news to President-elect Joe Biden—repeatedly described last Wednesday’s insurrection at the Capitol as “unprecedented.” But, in reality, it does represent who we are and who we’ve always been. Throughout U.S. history, there’s been a long legacy of white violence echoing last week’s attack at the Capitol. So while witnessing the insurrection may have been shocking, this event also has precedent—whether we’re talking about the days of the Civil War and Reconstruction or the Jim Crow South and segregation.