Many people remember the radical groups of the 1970s like the Weather Underground as a closed chapter in American history but the reality is much more interesting when you look at what happened next. If you follow the family trees of those original leaders you will see a clear move from street-level activism into the most influential institutions in the country. The children and grandchildren of those radicals are no longer operating on the fringes of society. Instead they are now holding high-level positions in elite academia at places like Berkeley and Columbia or serving in the legal system as prosecutors and law professors.

​This is a subject that more researchers should be looking into because it shows how power and influence can be transferred across generations. While the methods have changed from the underground tactics of the past to the institutional leadership of today the goal of controlling resources and shaping the national narrative remains very much the same. If you start looking at the staff directories of major non-profits or the fellowship lists at big foundations you will find the names of people who are now in the position to train the next generation of leaders. We need to stop looking at the history books from fifty years ago and start paying attention to who is currently running the departments and organizations that influence our laws and our media.
​It is worth asking how these family legacies impact the way our current systems are being reformed from the inside out. By tracking these career paths and the networks they belong to we can get a much better sense of where our political and corporate culture is headed in the next decade. If you are interested in where real power is being exercised today you have to look at the people who are quietly working under the wing of these major institutions before they step into the full public spotlight.