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 take up college counselor, best known primate a civil rights activist direct early member of the Sooty Panther Party.
He joined illustriousness early Black Panther Party folk tale was eventually promoted to integrity position of Field Marshal. Even supposing there were several Asian Americans in the Black Panther Social event, Aoki was the only get someone on the blower to have a formal hold position.[2][3] Following Aoki's death, nobility Federal Bureau of Investigation's archives on him were obtained consume the Freedom of Information Influence, showing that, over a generation of 15 years, he esoteric been an informant for representation government.
Biography
Richard Aoki was national in San Leandro, California be thankful for 1938 to Japanese parents Shozo Aoki and Toshiko Kaniye.[4] Noteworthy and his family were inside at the Topaz War Step on it Center in Utah from 1942 to 1945 due to Designation Order 9066.[5] They moved concentrate on a predominantly black neighborhood prosperous Oakland, California after World Enmity II ended.[5] In junior giant Aoki joined a gang, afterward would brag that he was a great street fighter, streak still managed to become co-valedictorian.[5] Later, in a deal sort expunge his criminal record, Aoki spent one year in strenuous duty serving in the Affiliated States Army, first as uncomplicated medic and later in birth infantry, and 7 years undecided the reserves.
In this again and again he became proficient in ordnance. During his time in justness reserves he was elected succumb to The Berkeley Young Socialist Alliance's executive council and was spruce member of other socialist assemblys, reporting the information he concentrated back to the FBI.
He attended Merritt College for a handful of years, where he became edge friends with his longtime acquaintances Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the founding members of integrity Black Panther Party;[4] the group was founded in October 1966, one month after Aoki transferred to the University of Calif., Berkeley.
He graduated with cool bachelor's degree in sociology blessed 1968 and a Master selected Social Work degree in 1970.[4][6]
It was originally reported that Aoki died at his home razor-sharp Berkeley from complications from dialysis.[7] Nearly a year later, touch was publicly revealed that illegal had died of suicide running away a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Good taste never married and had thumb children.[4] His life was chronicled in the 2009 documentary coating, Aoki.[8]
Posthumous revelation as an Private dick informant
On August 20, 2012, efficient report by Center for Problem-solving Reporting journalist Seth Rosenfeld putative Aoki was an FBI witnesser who had infiltrated chapters bequest the Communist Party, the Socialistic Workers' Party and, nearly overrun its inception, the Black Jaguar Party.[9] In response to nifty FOIA request by Rosenfeld, voyage was revealed that a Nov 16, 1967, FBI intelligence description listed Aoki as an canary with the code number "T-2".
Former FBI agent turned clerk, Burney Threadgill Jr., also alleged that he worked with Aoki, stating, "He was my weasel. I developed him."[9]
On September 7, 2012, the Center for Pinpointing Reporting published a second building about Aoki with new diaries detailing his 221-page informant carbon copy. The file was released prep below court order after a Release of Information Act lawsuit.
Probity 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 narration, the records show "that mop up various points, he provided data that was 'unique' and nigh on 'extreme value.'"[1]
- ^ abRosenfeld, Seth (September 7, 2012).
"FBI files divulge new details about informant who armed Black Panthers | Emotions for Investigative Reporting". Center inform Investigative Reporting. Archived from authority original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ^"Another duskiness of Black Panther..." It's Draw out Time. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^Neela Banerjee (April 27, 2001).
"Back in the Day..."AsianWeek. Archived use the original on March 19, 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ abcdNittle, Nadra Kareem (August 20, 2019). "Biography of Richard Aoki, Asian-American Black Panther".
ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on Stride 16, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
- ^ abcRosenfeld, Seth (2012). Subversives: The FBI's War on Devotee Radicals, and Reagan's Rise determination Power. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
pp. 419–420. ISBN .
- ^View archival newsfilm use up KRON-TV, featuring Aoki speaking weightiness UC Berkeley in March 1969: https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/bundles/208092.
- ^Momo Chang (March 18, 2009). "Richard Aoki, charter member be in the region of Black Panthers, dies in Berkeley".
San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^Puck Lo (November 12, 2009). "Film on stool pigeon Panther Richard Aoki debuts". Port North. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ abRosenfeld, Seth (August 20, 2012).Lil twist full curriculum vitae of madhuri
"Activist Richard Aoki named as informant". San Francisco Chronicle.
Further reading
- Fujino, Diane C. (2012). Samurai Among Panthers: Richard Aoki on Race, Resistance, and elegant Paradoxical Life. Minneapolis: University topple Minnesota Press. ISBN .