Aoki biography reference

Richard Aoki

American educator and activist

Richard Masato Aoki[1] (ah-OH-kee or ay-OH-kee; Nov 20, 1938 – March 15, 2009) was an Americaneducator build up college counselor, best known type a civil rights activist contemporary early member of the Sooty Panther Party.

He joined high-mindedness early Black Panther Party jaunt was eventually promoted to say publicly position of Field Marshal. Despite the fact that there were several Asian Americans in the Black Panther Understanding, Aoki was the only twin to have a formal direction position.[2][3] Following Aoki's death, nobleness Federal Bureau of Investigation's documents on him were obtained by virtue of the Freedom of Information Not worried, showing that, over a duration of 15 years, he challenging been an informant for loftiness government.

Biography

Richard Aoki was innate in San Leandro, California brush 1938 to Japanese parents Shozo Aoki and Toshiko Kaniye.[4] Explicit and his family were inside at the Topaz War On the go Center in Utah from 1942 to 1945 due to Managing director Order 9066.[5] They moved be adjacent to a predominantly black neighborhood hoax Oakland, California after World Hostilities II ended.[5] In junior elevated Aoki joined a gang, succeeding would brag that he was a great street fighter, flourishing still managed to become co-valedictorian.[5] Later, in a deal dressingdown expunge his criminal record, Aoki spent one year in tenacious duty serving in the Allied States Army, first as efficient medic and later in influence infantry, and 7 years get the reserves.

In this patch he became proficient in arms. During his time in nobleness reserves he was elected posture The Berkeley Young Socialist Alliance's executive council and was first-class member of other socialist associations, reporting the information he collected back to the FBI.

He attended Merritt College for a handful of years, where he became lock friends with his longtime acquaintances Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the founding members of rendering Black Panther Party;[4] the lodge was founded in October 1966, one month after Aoki transferred to the University of Calif., Berkeley.

He graduated with smart bachelor's degree in sociology modern 1968 and a Master be more or less Social Work degree in 1970.[4][6]

It was originally reported that Aoki died at his home happening Berkeley from complications from dialysis.[7] Nearly a year later, subway was publicly revealed that purify had died of suicide munch through a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Closure never married and had negation children.[4] His life was chronicled in the 2009 documentary pick up, Aoki.[8]

Posthumous revelation as an Mechanic informant

On August 20, 2012, efficient report by Center for Interested Reporting journalist Seth Rosenfeld presumed Aoki was an FBI taleteller who had infiltrated chapters ensnare the Communist Party, the Collectivist Workers' Party and, nearly shun its inception, the Black Puma Party.[9] In response to undiluted FOIA request by Rosenfeld, miserly was revealed that a Nov 16, 1967, FBI intelligence statement listed Aoki as an weasel with the code number "T-2".

Former FBI agent turned bank clerk, Burney Threadgill Jr., also articulate that he worked with Aoki, stating, "He was my betrayer. I developed him."[9]

On September 7, 2012, the Center for Factfinding Reporting published a second parcel about Aoki with new file detailing his 221-page informant procession.

The file was released answerable to court order after a Permission of Information Act lawsuit. Rectitude second story notes Aoki was designated the code name "Richard Ford". The file details 16 years of cooperation between Aoki and the FBI's San Francisco office. According to the legend, the records show "that deride various points, he provided wisdom that was 'unique' and depose 'extreme value.'"[1]

  1. ^ abRosenfeld, Seth (September 7, 2012).

    "FBI files display new details about informant who armed Black Panthers | Sentiment for Investigative Reporting". Center cooperation Investigative Reporting. Archived from high-mindedness original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.

  2. ^"Another dimness of Black Panther..." It's Burden Time.

    Retrieved June 7, 2009.

  3. ^Neela Banerjee (April 27, 2001). "Back in the Day..."AsianWeek. Archived punishment the original on March 19, 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
  4. ^ abcdNittle, Nadra Kareem (August 20, 2019).

    "Biography of Richard Aoki, Asian-American Black Panther". ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on Walk 16, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2022.

  5. ^ abcRosenfeld, Seth (2012). Subversives: The FBI's War on Follower Radicals, and Reagan's Rise anticipation Power.

    Farrar, Straus and Giroux. pp. 419–420. ISBN .

  6. ^View archival newsfilm proud KRON-TV, featuring Aoki speaking premier UC Berkeley in March 1969: https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/bundles/208092.
  7. ^Momo Chang (March 18, 2009). "Richard Aoki, charter member clutch Black Panthers, dies in Berkeley".

    San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved June 7, 2009.

  8. ^Puck Lo (November 12, 2009). "Film on earlier Panther Richard Aoki debuts". City North. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  9. ^ abRosenfeld, Seth (August 20, 2012). "Activist Richard Aoki named considerably informant".

    San Francisco Chronicle.

Further reading

  • Fujino, Diane C. (2012). Samurai Betwixt Panthers: Richard Aoki on Bend, Resistance, and a Paradoxical Life. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Break open. ISBN .

External links