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Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Mentor Mixer Tonight
Monday, August 20, 2012
Marvin X on KPFA, Greg Bridges interview
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Marvin X thought you would like to see this page from the KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley: Listener Sponsored Free Speech Radio web site.Transitions On Traditions with Greg Bridges - August 20, 2012 at 8:00pm
by KPFA Web Director
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Was the first Asian Black Panther a snitch?
Courtesy of Shoshana Arai
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Man who armed Black Panthers was FBI informant, records show
Published: Monday, Aug. 20, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 3A
The man who gave the Black Panther Party some of its first firearms and weapons training – which preceded fatal shootouts with Oakland police in the turbulent 1960s – was an undercover FBI informer, according to a former bureau agent and an FBI report.
One of the Bay Area's most prominent radical activists of the era, Richard Masato Aoki, was known as a fierce militant who touted his street-fighting abilities. He was a member of several radical groups before joining and arming the Panthers.
Aoki went on to work for 25 years as a teacher, counselor and administrator at the Peralta Community College District, and after his suicide in 2009 he was revered as a fearless radical.
But unbeknownst to his fellow activists, Aoki had served as an FBI intelligence informant, covertly filing reports on a wide range of Bay Area political groups, according to the bureau agent who recruited him.
That agent, Burney Threadgill Jr., recalled that he approached Aoki in the late 1950s, about the time Aoki was graduating from Berkeley High School. He asked Aoki if he would join left-wing groups and report to the FBI.
"He was my informant. I developed him," Threadgill said in an interview. "He was one of the best sources we had."
The former agent said he asked Aoki how he felt about the Soviet Union, and the young man replied that he had no interest in communism.
"I said, 'Well, why don't you just go to some of the meetings and tell me who's there and what they talked about?' Very pleasant little guy. He always wore dark glasses," Threadgill recalled.
Aoki's work for the FBI, which has never been reported, was uncovered and verified during research for the book "Subversives: The FBI's War on Student Radicals, and Reagan's Rise to Power" by this reporter. The book (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $40, 752 pages), based on research spanning three decades, is to be published Tuesday.
In a tape-recorded interview for the book in 2007, two years before he committed suicide, Aoki was asked if he had been an FBI informant. Aoki's first response was a long silence. He then replied, " 'Oh,' is all I can say."
Later during the same interview, Aoki contended the information wasn't true.
Asked if this reporter was mistaken that Aoki had been an informant, Aoki said, "I think you are," but added: "People change. It is complex. Layer upon layer."
However, the FBI later released records about Aoki in response to a Freedom of Information Actrequest. A Nov. 16, 1967, intelligence report on the Black Panthers lists Aoki as an "informant" with the code number "T-2."
An FBI spokesman declined to comment on Aoki, citing litigation seeking additional records about him under the Freedom of Information Act.
Since his death – Aoki shot himself at his Berkeley home after a long illness – his legend has grown. In a 2009 feature-length documentary film, "Aoki," and a 2012 biography, "Samurai Among Panthers," he is portrayed as a militant radical leader. Neither mentions that he had worked with the FBI.
Threadgill recalled that he first approached Aoki after a bureau wiretap on the home phone of Saul and Billie Wachter, local members of the Communist Party, picked up Aoki talking to fellow Berkeley High classmate Doug Wachter.
At first, Aoki gathered information about the Communist Party, Threadgill said. But Aoki soon focused on the Socialist Workers Party and its youth affiliate, the Young Socialist Alliance, also targets of an intensive FBI domestic security investigation.
By spring 1962, Aoki had been elected to the Berkeley Young Socialist Alliance's executive council, FBI records show. That December, he became a member of the Oakland-Berkeley branch of theSocialist Workers Party, where he served as the representative to Bay Area civil rights groups. He also was on the steering committee of the Committee to Uphold the Right to Travel.
In 1965, Aoki joined the Vietnam Day Committee, an influential anti-war group based in Berkeley, and worked on its international committee as liaison to foreign anti-war activists.
All along, Aoki met regularly with his FBI handler. Aoki also filed reports by phone, Threadgill said.
He worked with Aoki through mid-1965, when he moved to another FBI office and turned Aoki over to a fellow agent.
Aoki gave the Panthers some of their first guns. As Bobby Seale recalled in his memoir, "Seize the Time," the group approached Aoki, "a Third World brother we knew, a Japanese radical cat. He had guns … .357 Magnums, 22's, 9 mm's, what have you."
In early 1967, Aoki joined the Black Panther Party and gave it more guns, Seale wrote. Aoki also gave Panther recruits weapons training, he said in the 2007 interview.
Although carrying weapons was legal at the time, there is little doubt that their presence contributed to fatal confrontations between the Panthers and police.
On Oct. 28, 1967, Huey Newton was in a shootout that wounded Oakland Officer Herbert Heanes and killed Officer John Frey. On April 6, 1968, Eldridge Cleaver and five other Panthers were involved in a firefight with Oakland police. Cleaver and two officers were wounded, and Panther Bobby Hutton was killed.
This story was produced by the independent, nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting, the country's largest investigative reporting team. For more, visit www.cironline.org.
Rosenfeld can be reached at seth@sethrosenfeld.com.
Black on Black Homicide and the Mythology of Pussy and Dick
We hear of a national program to reach out to gang members about male/female relations, to instruct young black men that women are not their chattel or private property. No matter what, they must come out of the patriarchal mentality that their girlfriend's body belongs to them, rather than her, no matter that they may pay the cost to be the boss. Alas, in many cases the males are not even in a position to pay the cost to be the boss, and this may be reason for tension and insecurity on the part of males, thus any perceived breach of the relationship contract is reason for violence against the female or her suspected male partner and/or friend, especially the new boyfriend.
Because of the high incarceration rate in the hood, many relationships are insecure at best, and of course women alone seek out friendship of other males and/or females when their boyfriends go to jail.
His buddies inform on her behavior and retaliation is in order, sometimes it is the guy's best friend who is improper or out of line with the incarcerated person. Thus the consequent violence is done out of passion and ego damage, although in many cases the wounded male was never "right," and more often was wrong and abusive, so he shot himself in the foot and the female was only getting a little revenge when she started having sex with his best friend, after all, he had had a sexual relationship with her girlfriend.
Yes, this is high drama in the hood, but it is real not some stage play. Of course many brothers will claim they went to jail trying to "pay their pussy bill." This can only increase tension, hurt and passion if the female does not remain true and faithful, although she has the human right to go her way. This is what must be understood on the part of young males. They must get a healing on this matter so critical to their life and death. People who are descendants of the slave system cannot intern treat each other as slaves.
Young black man, your woman's pussy belongs to her, not you! You don't have a pussy, Mr. Black man. Do you bleed five days per month? Get a life, get manhood training and come into the modern world. We are all free human beings, born free by the Creator, and no about of money, clothes, trinkets, food, hair weave or other materialism makes you the owner of your woman. Again, she is not your slave and you are not her master.
Clearly, you can hardly master yourself, let alone master her. Some of you are so ignut you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground, yet you want to control and dominate your wife, girlfriend, partner.
Get a healing, come out of the Flintstones, stop killing your brother because when you kill him you kill yourself!
--Marvin X
8/20/12
Marvin X is the author of Mythology of Pussy and Dick, aka Mythology of Love, a manhood and womanhood rite of passage, Black Bird Press, Berkeley. Marvin X has given away thousands of copies of his pamphlet MOP@D nationwide. He spent a week lecturing on the topic at Howard University.
Comments from youth include a young lady who said, "The pamphlet empowered me. I didn't know I had that much power." A young black male said, "It helped me up my game." A mother told Marvin, "Thank you, thank you for writing this. I am going to make my son and daughter read this.
On Saturday, September 1, 3-6pm, Marvin X will read and sign his latest book The Wisdom of Plato Negro, parables/fables, at the Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th Street, downtown Oakland. Call 510-200-4164.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
On Returning through the Door of No Return
The reed eternally years to return to the reed bed. Rumi taught us, this is why the sound of the reed flute is the sound of mourning, of lost. And thus we come naked and return naked to the womb of life. All that we do while here is in anticipation of the return, for Mother gave us birth and to Mother we return.
We have no illusions we shall be here forever, for we understand we are here from a moment. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said live like we shall be here forever and like we shall die tomorrow morning.
It is not about years, didn't MKL, Jr. say he wished he could live a long life, and yet he went to the Mountaintop and saw us in the promised land. Even the very thought is enough to make reality, for are not thoughts things?
Just do the work, that is most important, the work, the time, the energy, the sacrifice, the selflessness. After which we are not full of dread but happiness and joy, for we have done the work and passed the baton to the next generation. There is nothing else to do but say As-Salaam-Alaikum!
The Africans say the only death is to be forgotten, to not continue in the communal memory as ancestor. But if you do the work, you shall be remembered. Your spirit in the communal memory shall survive.
There is clear evidence of this in your students, children and grandchildren. Do the work!
There is no retirement for the soldier if the battle is not won. He fights on until victory, no matter age, disability, memory. No "slave" dies a natural death. Elder Ed Howard teaches us we were never slaves but Africans caught in the "slave system." Thus we must never address ourselves as slaves but rather as persons caught in the American Slave System (ASS).
This reevaluation of the African psycho will lead us to a solution to the identity crisis, Am I Kunta Kinti or Toby?
How long would it take a Jew to declare whether he is a victim of Nazism or is he a citizen of the world, citizen in a country possessing nuclear weapons to defend itself?
The Pan African psyche is yet enduring the wretchedness of colonialism and neocolonialism. Witness the recent mass murder of miners in South Africa!
We should know by now a black face shall not save you. In Newark, New Jersey, every black mayor has been a sellout, according to Black Arts Movement Godfather Amiri Baraka. "They sold out before they took the oath of office!"
Amiri Baraka told this writer he personally gave out copies of How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy by Marvin X to the entire Newark City administration, including the mayor, Cory Booker.
And so here we are at the precipice, and yet only you can save you, have no illusions, the North American African must come from his root traditions, suffered in the swamps, bayous, creeks, rivers,
plantations and free towns, urban cities, hoods and turfs.
Stand up and call fourth that ineluctable energy to be successful and honor ancestors!
--MarvinX/El Muhajir
8/18/12
We have no illusions we shall be here forever, for we understand we are here from a moment. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said live like we shall be here forever and like we shall die tomorrow morning.
It is not about years, didn't MKL, Jr. say he wished he could live a long life, and yet he went to the Mountaintop and saw us in the promised land. Even the very thought is enough to make reality, for are not thoughts things?
Just do the work, that is most important, the work, the time, the energy, the sacrifice, the selflessness. After which we are not full of dread but happiness and joy, for we have done the work and passed the baton to the next generation. There is nothing else to do but say As-Salaam-Alaikum!
The Africans say the only death is to be forgotten, to not continue in the communal memory as ancestor. But if you do the work, you shall be remembered. Your spirit in the communal memory shall survive.
There is clear evidence of this in your students, children and grandchildren. Do the work!
There is no retirement for the soldier if the battle is not won. He fights on until victory, no matter age, disability, memory. No "slave" dies a natural death. Elder Ed Howard teaches us we were never slaves but Africans caught in the "slave system." Thus we must never address ourselves as slaves but rather as persons caught in the American Slave System (ASS).
This reevaluation of the African psycho will lead us to a solution to the identity crisis, Am I Kunta Kinti or Toby?
How long would it take a Jew to declare whether he is a victim of Nazism or is he a citizen of the world, citizen in a country possessing nuclear weapons to defend itself?
The Pan African psyche is yet enduring the wretchedness of colonialism and neocolonialism. Witness the recent mass murder of miners in South Africa!
We should know by now a black face shall not save you. In Newark, New Jersey, every black mayor has been a sellout, according to Black Arts Movement Godfather Amiri Baraka. "They sold out before they took the oath of office!"
And so here we are at the precipice, and yet only you can save you, have no illusions, the North American African must come from his root traditions, suffered in the swamps, bayous, creeks, rivers,
plantations and free towns, urban cities, hoods and turfs.
Stand up and call fourth that ineluctable energy to be successful and honor ancestors!
--MarvinX/El Muhajir
8/18/12
Friday, August 17, 2012
Have Blacks Lost The Revolutionary Holy Ghost?
Derek King and Rev. Al Sharpton
by Jessica Williams-Gibson Special to the NNPA from The Indianapolis Recorder
http://greenecountydemocrat.com/?p=4688
http://greenecountydemocrat.com/?p=4688
Some are concerned that the kind of activism advocated by leaders such as Rev. Derek King (left) and Rev. Al Sharpton is not as strong in the Black community today as in the past.
During the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s, African-Americans mobilized and marched for issues such as segregation, racial discrimination and voting rights.
Issues Blacks face today include unemployment, health disparities, mass incarceration, education declines, voting hurdles, gun violence and the deterioration of the Black family among many others. These issues matter to African-Americans, however many would argue that very little action is taken on these issues or if an outcry does occur, the passion soon fades.
Have Blacks lost their spirit for social activism? Have Blacks forgotten how to come together to affect change?
Dr. Derek B. King Sr., a professor at Martin University and nephew of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Rev. Thomas L. Brown, son of local civil rights activist Dr. Andrew J. Brown and pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church; and Barbara Bolling, a member of the national board of directors and the Indiana State President of the NAACP, give their thoughts.
The Black church has changed
King believes that Blacks have lost their spirit for social activism for several reasons. He says that during the civil rights movement, issues of racism were clear and victories that were won because of the movement caused people to believe “the fight” was over.
Most importantly he believes the Black church has changed. “The messaging has changed. There are some Black pastors who try to keep their congregants aware of issues that affect Blacks disproportionately. But the majority of the messaging coming out of the Black church does not speak to systemic challenges,” said King.
“One of the people who was well respected in the Black community was pastors. Much of the messaging that comes out of Black pulpits today is prosperity preaching…get paid…get your breakthrough. When we talk about things that affect Blacks, we’ve fallen asleep behind the wheel.”
Despite his strong opinion, he said there is considerable concern in the Black community about homicide rates, however there is a laundry list of important issues that Blacks are either unaware of or don’t care about.
“We’ve gotten selfish. If it doesn’t affect me, it’s not my problem. During the civil rights movement, it didn’t matter how much money you had or how much education you had, Blacks in the south sat on the back of the bus. Up until 1965 Blacks in America could not vote. These issues affected all Blacks,” he said.
“Unless it affects a measurable population of Blacks, we will raise our voices and take some sort of action, but generally, (we have the attitude of) ‘if it doesn’t affect me, it’s not my problem.’”
Apathy has increased
Brown agrees with King and says that Blacks have lost their social activism because they’ve lost their spiritual activism.
“We have become lazy and apathetic. Our religion has become part of the secular movement and not the spiritual movement,” said Brown. “Our Black church is about religion, not spirituality.”
He also echoes King’s sentiments on rampant selfishness in the Black community.
At 70-years-old, Brown not only actively demonstrated during the civil rights movement, but his father, Rev. Andrew J. Brown was a local leader fighting for justice. Brown has also sat amongst noted Black leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Ralph Abernathy and even Malcolm X.
Although Brown has not stopped speaking out on issues in the Black community, he pinpoints the 90s as the begging of the decline of the Black activist.
“We were moving toward the notion of making money and becoming financially successful…getting status,” he said. “We started copying our oppressor.”
Brown does recognize the awe and accomplishments of President Barack Obama, but reminds Blacks that “we have not arrived.”
To further prove his point, he said that when Blacks do speak out on issues, it’s usually on issues of grief such as the Trayvon Martin issue. Blacks need to speak out about all injustices, including Black-on-Black crime.
Increases in technology spewing information quickly have also aided in Blacks glossing over issues. People are hustling and are all about survival while simultaneously losing sight of their historical passion for change.
He also believes Blacks have lost the concept of sacrifice.
Technology can be overwhelming
Bolling does not agree that Blacks have lost their spirit for social activism citing the Trayvon Martin marches that occurred across the country and the outcry during the 2007 Jena 6 incident involving high school students and racism in Louisiana.
She said that when issues such as those arise and reach people’s hearts, Blacks do mobilize and march.
On the other hand, she also said that technology and the barrage of news that people are faced with does make tackling issues overwhelming.
“If something does occur, you have to act instantaneously. If it takes you too long to get to your point, people’s minds will wander. You got to be ready (to fight injustice) all the time,” said Bolling.
People should not only be vigilant in addressing new issues, but also remember issues that took place during the civil rights movement still affect Blacks today. She cites today’s Voter ID laws mirroring poll taxes of the past.
Solutions to the problem
King, Brown and Bolling are hopeful that Blacks can regain the passion that once fueled mass social change.
King looks to Black media to use brutal honesty and inform the public about issues going on in the African-American community.
Bolling said that Blacks should educate today’s youth about the past and prepare them to fight for injustices.
She also said that instead of people looking for a “new Dr. King,” President Obama or groups like the NAACP to solve all of Blacks’ problems, average people should take a stand and fight for issues they are passionate about.
Brown agrees that the answer to the problem lies in volunteerism. “We’ve got two or three generations caught up in feeling that they’re entitled. People need to volunteer,” said Brown. “Well, my daddy, Dr. King, Andy Young, Sam Proctor and all those guys used to say ‘it’s got to get worse in order for it to get better.’ We have not hit our bottom yet.”
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