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. From 1974 to 1985, he spent time in prison. This experience helped him become even more involved in politics.
Today, he is part of the Steering Committee for the Jericho Movement. This group works to help free political prisoners in the U.S. Alston lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Early Life and Influences
Ashanti Alston grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey. He described his hometown as a place where racism and a lack of power were common. When he was 11, Malcolm X was assassinated. Two years later, in 1967, major events like the 1967 Newark riots happened near his home.
Alston later understood how important Malcolm X's ideas were. He saw his older brother's copy of Malcolm X's autobiography. It showed him that people from difficult backgrounds could become heroes in the fight for change. He also saw the Plainfield rebellion in 1967. This showed him Black men and women acting heroically in their community.
Joining the Black Panther Party
These events led Alston to join the Black Panther Party at age 17. He felt the Panthers were continuing Malcolm X's work. At first, he attended meetings of the Nation of Islam. He had strong negative feelings towards white people, which was taught by that group. However, joining the Panthers changed his views.
Activism and Prison Experience
In 1971, Alston joined the Black Liberation Army (BLA). This group was connected to the Panthers. They believed in using different methods to fight against the U.S. government. In 1974, he was arrested. He spent 11 years in prison for being involved in activities to help fund the BLA.
Learning and Changing Views in Prison
His time in prison was very important for Alston. He learned a lot about political movements, how economies work, and different political groups. During this time, he became an anarchist. This was different from the Marxism-Leninism and Maoism ideas explored by the Black Panther Party.
While in prison, Alston also became less supportive of the BLA. He felt they were not helping Black communities as much as they should. He also noticed issues with gender equality in the Black Panther Party. Even though the group aimed for equality, he saw many challenges for women. However, he also recognized that women in the party felt strong. They could stand up for themselves because everyone had weapons.
Personal Life
In 1984, Alston married Safiya Bukhari. She was also a member of the BPP and BLA. She passed away in 2003. In 2006, Alston married Professor Viviane Saleh-Hanna. They have two children together.
