Ashanti Alston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ashanti Alston
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Alston speaking in 2005
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Ashanti Alston Omowali
1954 Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Organization | Black Panther Party Black Liberation Army |
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Ashanti Omowali Alston (born 1954) is an activist, speaker, and writer. He was once a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. He is now part of the Jericho Movement, which works to free U.S. political prisoners. Alston lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Early Life and Influences
Ashanti Alston grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey. Important events in history shaped his early life. When he was 11, Malcolm X was assassinated. Two years later, in 1967, the Newark riots happened nearby.
Alston later understood how important Malcolm X's ideas were. He saw how people from all backgrounds could become leaders. He also saw the Plainfield rebellion in 1967. This showed him how Black men and women could be heroes in their community.
These events led Alston to join the Black Panther Party at age 17. He felt the Panthers were continuing Malcolm X's work. He also attended meetings of the Nation of Islam. Joining the Panthers helped him change some of his earlier views.
Joining the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army
In 1971, Alston joined the Black Liberation Army. This group was connected to the Black Panther Party. They believed in fighting for change through armed struggle.
During this time, Alston learned a lot about different ideas. He studied political movements and economic theories. He also learned about different political groups and guerrilla tactics.
While with these groups, Alston became an anarchist. This was different from the Marxism-Leninism and Maoism ideas of the Black Panther Party. He also started to see some problems within the Black Liberation Army.
Views on Gender Equality
Alston noticed that there was sexism in the Black Panther Party. This was true even though the group said they believed in gender equality. He realized this more clearly later in his life.
However, he also recognized that some women felt stronger because of the Black Panther Party. They were able to fight against sexism, even within the party itself.
Personal Life
In 1984, Alston married Safiya Bukhari. She was also a member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army. Safiya Bukhari passed away in 2003.
In 2006, Alston married Professor Viviane Saleh-Hanna. They have two children together.
See Also
- Black Panther Party
- Black Liberation Army
- Anarchism
- Jericho Movement
