The news that civil rights hero Richard Aoki was an FBI informant shocked the Asian American community. Hyphen reflects on his life in search of truth, and considers what this news means for Aoki's legacy — and for Asian America.
I. The Man We Thought We Knew
Who was Richard Aoki, really? How did he transform from a juvenile delinquent, to a staunchly anti-communist soldier? The first installment in a four-part series examining Aoki's secret life, and what it means for the communities that revered him as a hero.
II. The Man Who Armed the Panthers
Was Aoki an activist or an informant? Was he snitching on the panthers at the same time that he was arming them? His activist peers reflect on his secret double life.
III. Richard Aoki's Death
Did Aoki's hidden past lead him to commit suicide, as some have suggested? We look back at Aoki's death and his transformation from ailing teacher to cultural hero.
IV. Reconciling Aoki's Dual Lives
The news that Aoki was an informant has left many reeling, and provoked an intense backlash. His peers and followers respond.
Richard Masato Aoki: A timeline of reactions
Social networking sites, bloggers, and online news sites presented a mosaic of reactions to allegations and evidence mounting, that Richard Masato Aoki (November 20, 1938 - March 15, 2009), was an FBI informant.