Richard Aoki facts for kids
Richard Masato Aoki (born November 20, 1938 – died March 15, 2009) was an American educator and college counselor. He is known as a civil rights activist and an early member of the Black Panther Party. He joined the Black Panther Party when it was just starting. He eventually became a Field Marshal, which was an important leadership role. Richard Aoki was the only Asian American to hold such a high position in the Black Panther Party. After his death, government records showed that he had provided information to the government for many years.
Quick facts for kids
Richard Aoki
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Aoki in 2007
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| Born |
Richard Masato Aoki
November 20, 1938 San Leandro, California, U.S.
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| Died | March 15, 2009 (aged 70) Berkeley, California, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | Merritt College University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation | Civil rights activist most known for his role in the Black Panther Party, FBI informant against same. |
Contents
Richard Aoki's Early Life
Richard Aoki was born in San Leandro, California, in 1938. His parents, Shozo Aoki and Toshiko Kaniye, were from Japan. From 1942 to 1945, Richard and his family were sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah. This happened because of Executive Order 9066, which forced many Japanese American families into special camps during World War II.
After the war, his family moved to Oakland, California. This neighborhood was mostly Black. Richard was a very good student and even became co-valedictorian in junior high. He later joined the United States Army for one year. He served as a medic and then in the infantry. He also spent seven years in the reserves. During this time, he became very skilled with firearms.
College Years and Activism
Richard Aoki attended Merritt College for two years. There, he became good friends with Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. These two friends later started the Black Panther Party. This important organization was founded in October 1966.
Aoki transferred to the University of California, Berkeley one month after the Black Panther Party began. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1968. He then completed a master's degree in social work in 1970. During his time in college, he was also part of other groups that supported socialist ideas.
Role in the Black Panther Party
Richard Aoki was one of the first members to join the Black Panther Party. He quickly rose to a leadership position. He became a Field Marshal, which meant he helped organize and train members. He was the only Asian American to hold such a high-ranking position in the party. His skills with firearms, learned in the army, were useful to the group.
The Black Panther Party was a political organization. It was founded to challenge police brutality and fight for the rights of Black people. They also created community programs, like free breakfast for children.
Later Life and Information Revealed
Richard Aoki passed away on March 15, 2009, at his home in Berkeley, California. He never married and did not have any children. A documentary film about his life, called Aoki, was released in 2009.
After his death, new information about Richard Aoki became public. A journalist named Seth Rosenfeld used the Freedom of Information Act to get government records. These records showed that Richard Aoki had provided information to the FBI for many years. This cooperation lasted for about 16 years. The records described the information he shared as "unique" and of "extreme value."
