Richard Aoki

Richard Aoki
Born (1938-11-20)November 20, 1938
San Leandro, California, United States
Died March 15, 2009(2009-03-15) (aged 70)
Berkeley, California, United States
Cause of death Self-inflicted gunshot wound
Nationality United States
Education Merritt College
University of California, Berkeley
Occupation Civil Rights Activist most known for his role in the Black Panther Party

Richard Aoki (/[unsupported input]ɑːˈoʊki/ or /eɪˈoʊki/; 20 November 1938 – 15 March 2009) was an American educator and college counselor, best known as a civil rights activist and early member of the Black Panther Party. He joined the early Black Panther Party and was eventually promoted to the position of Field Marshal. Although there were several Asian Americans in the Black Panther Party, Aoki was the only one to have a formal leadership position.[1][2] FBI documents released in 2012 assert that Aoki was an FBI informant from 1961 to 1977, which is denied by his supporters.

Life

Aoki was born in San Leandro, California in 1938 to Japanese parents. He and his family were interned at the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah from 1942 to 1945. They moved to Oakland, California after World War II ended. Aoki spent eight years serving in the United States Army, first as a medic and later in the infantry. He attended Merritt College for two years, where he became close friends with his longtime acquaintances Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the founding members of the Black Panther Party; the organization was founded in October 1966, one month after Aoki transferred to the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1968 and a Master of Social Work degree in 1970.[3]

It was originally reported that Aoki died at his home in Berkeley from complications from dialysis.[4] Nearly a year later, it was publicly revealed that he had died of suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His life was chronicled in the 2009 documentary film, Aoki.[5]

Role as an FBI informant

On August 20, 2012, a report by Center for Investigative Reporting journalist Seth Rosenfeld alleged Aoki was an FBI informant who had infiltrated chapters of the Communist Party, the Socialist Workers' Party and, nearly from its inception, the Black Panther Party.[6] In response to a FOIA request by Rosenfeld, it was revealed that a November 16, 1967 FBI intelligence report listed Aoki as an informant with the code number "T-2". FBI agent Burney Threadgill Jr. also said that he worked with Aoki, stating, "He was my informant. I developed him."[7]

In response, documentary makers Mike Cheng and Ben Wang, directors of the film Aoki, called into question the proof Aoki was an informant. "After reviewing Rosenfeld's article, video, and book, there is no solid evidence presented that Richard was as an FBI informant... it is unacceptable for Rosenfeld to discredit Richard's integrity based on the unsubstantiated word of a deceased FBI agent and a document with redacted and vague information."[8]

On September 7, 2012, the Center for Investigative Reporting published a second story about Aoki with new documents detailing his 221-page informant file. The file was released under court order after a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The 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 story, the records show "that at various points, he provided information that was 'unique' and of 'extreme value.' " [9]

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