From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Richard Aoki, a revolutionary, civil right activist and a memebr of the BPP passed away
On March 15, Richard Aoki, a revolutionary and a civil rights activist died. Aoki was a founding member of the Black Panther Party (BPP), becoming a Field Marshal. Using his military training, Aoki assisted members of the BPP in acquiring weapons and trained members in defending the community from the Oakland Police. Aoki was also a leader in the third world Liberation Front (twLF), an organization that led strikes, resulting in the establishment of Berkeley’s Ethnic Studies department.
At the age of four, Aoki was confined with his family in a concentration camp in Utah, during the Japanese Internment of World War Two. After the war, Aoki’s family moved to Oakland and still in his youth, Aoki enlisted in the military, however, he later was discharged for dissent against the Vietnam War. Growing up in West Oakland, Aoki was a close friend of Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seal, and helped found the BPP.
Although the BPP had several Asian-American members, Aoki was the only Asian-American to achieve a formal leadership position. His connections to the community along with his revolutionary politics made him a Branch Captain, and later a Field Marshal. Using his military training, Aoki assisted members of the BPP in acquiring weapons and trained members in defending their community from the Oakland Police. He also provided political education, leading discussion and classes for BPP members concentrating on Marxist, Leninist, and Maoist theory.
In 1968, while a Field Marshal with the BPP, Aoki became a member of the Asian American Political Alliance, a student organization that held a leading position in the twLF fight for Ethnic Studies. From Through twLF, Aoki merged his background in community organizing with student movements.
For many, Aoki represented internationalism and solidarity. In a statement about solidarity between oppressed communities, Aoki said "I've seen where unity amongst the races yielded positives results. I don't see any other way for people to gain freedom, justice, equality here except by being inclusionist"
Although the BPP had several Asian-American members, Aoki was the only Asian-American to achieve a formal leadership position. His connections to the community along with his revolutionary politics made him a Branch Captain, and later a Field Marshal. Using his military training, Aoki assisted members of the BPP in acquiring weapons and trained members in defending their community from the Oakland Police. He also provided political education, leading discussion and classes for BPP members concentrating on Marxist, Leninist, and Maoist theory.
In 1968, while a Field Marshal with the BPP, Aoki became a member of the Asian American Political Alliance, a student organization that held a leading position in the twLF fight for Ethnic Studies. From Through twLF, Aoki merged his background in community organizing with student movements.
For many, Aoki represented internationalism and solidarity. In a statement about solidarity between oppressed communities, Aoki said "I've seen where unity amongst the races yielded positives results. I don't see any other way for people to gain freedom, justice, equality here except by being inclusionist"
Add Your Comments
Latest Comments
Listed below are the latest comments about this post.
These comments are submitted anonymously by website visitors.
TITLE
AUTHOR
DATE
Not a popular opinion, but...
Wed, Mar 25, 2009 6:31AM
peace curly
Wed, Mar 25, 2009 1:18AM
WHAT MATTERS NOW!
Mon, Mar 23, 2009 9:29PM
Richard Aoki: the Panther party--more than a "black thang"
Sun, Mar 22, 2009 1:34PM
curly
Sat, Mar 21, 2009 10:04AM
i wrote the article
Thu, Mar 19, 2009 10:22PM
how about
Thu, Mar 19, 2009 10:15PM
great pic,
Thu, Mar 19, 2009 9:41PM
March 15th
Thu, Mar 19, 2009 9:31PM
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network