Richard Aoki | |
|---|---|
 Aoki in 2007 | |
| Born | Richard Masato Aoki November 20, 1938 San Leandro, California, U.S. |
| Died | March 15, 2009 (aged 70) Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide by gunshot |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Merritt College University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation(s) | Civil rights activist most known for his role in the Black Panther Party, FBI informant against same. |
Richard Masato Aoki[1] (/ɑːˈoʊki/ ah-OH-kee or /eɪˈoʊki/ ay-OH-kee; November 20, 1938 – March 15, 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.[2][3] Following Aoki's death, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's records on him were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, showing that, over a period of 15 years, he had been an informant for the government.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
cironlinewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Another shade of Black Panther..." It's About Time. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ Neela Banerjee (April 27, 2001). "Back in the Day..." AsianWeek. Archived from the original on March 19, 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2009.