100 Objects #6: "Sharpened Screwdriver"
6/26/202640 min
In this episode, Roman and historians Heather Ann Thompson and Elliot Williams tell the story of the sharpened screwdriver: the object at the heart of the 1984 Bernhard Goetz subway shooting. In a difficult moment in New York City, four Black teenagers were transformed in the public imagination into armed criminals. What follows is a gripping account of how misinformation takes hold, how fear shapes public opinion, and how one narrative can ripple outward – echoing through decades of similar cases that continue to unfold today.
A History of the United States in 100 Objects is a production of 99% Invisible and BBC Studios.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsElliot Williams· Guest0:02
Mazda has been named Consumer Reports' safest new car brand. It starts with our approach. Every Mazda comes standard with proactive safety features, so you're more aware of what's around you, more focused on the road ahead, and ready before problems ever start. Mazda, more of what matters most to you. Go to mazdusa.com to learn more. Consumer Reports does not endorse or promote any product.
Roman Mars· Host0:28
Insurance isn't one size fits all. That's why drivers have trusted Progressive's Name Your Price tool for years. Just tell Progressive what you want to pay, and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Visit progressive.com to find a car insurance rate that works for you. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law. It's 1984. Ronald Reagan is president. MTV is just three years old. And it's the era of the Death Wish movies.
Ted Danson1:01
This is the story of a man who decided to clean up the most violent town in the world.
Bernie Goetz· Soundbite1:08
I said turn around. Hand me the money.
Roman Mars· Host1:11
If you've never seen the Death Wish movies, they follow the actor Charles Bronson as he goes on a shooting spree to, depending on the movie, avenge the murder of his wife or the murders of other ordinary New Yorkers who fall prey to the city's wildest, most violent criminals.