For my second video I decided to watch “The Man Who Armed The Panthers”. The video was very direct and went into detail about a guy name Richard Aoki. He was arming the Black Panthers with guns and would also offer training. Although seen as a big help to this organization there were rumors spreading around that he might be an informant for the FBI. A former FBI agent had claimed that Richard was working for him to obtain information for the FBI on the black panthers. Richard was interviewed and asked about his involvement which he denied any relations to working with the FBI at the time. It is still unclear to me which side was Richard on. If he was working for the FBI why would he offer to help the Black Panthers and offer guns. What I found interesting is that Richards name was on the list of informants but the FBI claimed they had no files on Richard himself…? I believe that the FBI is withholding information on Aoki because they know something “deeper” about Aoki’s double life. Sadly but interesting enough Richard took his own life on March 15,2009 and had the Black Panthers suit neatly pressed out on his bed.
Judas and the Black Messiah
While watching the film I immediately knew it was going to be a good movie because it had some of my favorite actors like Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Standfield. As I was watching the film I noticed some of the characters based of the articles we have read before. I was so amazed at how spot of the characters were and also the set. It makes you you feel like you are traveling back in time. The costumes and set designs help tell the story well in my opinion. I feel like when bill was initially asked to help out the FBI it was a good way of taking the audience through the story. While enjoying the movie I also learned some new things about the Black Panther Party. I didn’t know that they would meet with other groups for example when the black panther party meets with the Young Patriots and the Puerto Rican group Young Lords to try to work together. This is something that I didn’t know about because nun of the articles mention it. Another thing I learned was that they blew up the Black Panther Party office building. This made me mad because it just shows the hatred they had for people of color who just wanted equal rights and justice against police brutality.
I watched the same film. And I am left with confusion as well. There is 4,000 pages that the FBI doesn’t want to show. And nobody is saying anything as to why others can’t know about this.
It’s very interesting that a former FBI agent claimed that Richard was working for him to obtain information for the FBI, yet his side is still left unknown. This situation is still very confusing and should be investigated further.
Watching the first video and hearing how every 4 in 5 people would be an FBI agent during the time, makes me question him even more. These people would make the party turn on themselves and Aoki just seemed too suspicious for me.