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The Henry Roe Cloud Series on American Indians and Modernity
A Journey to Freedom: Richard Oakes, Alcatraz, and the Red Power Movement
The first book-length biography of Richard Oakes, a Red Power activist of the 1960s who was a leader in the Alcatraz takeover and the Indigenous rights movement
“A powerful contribution to our understanding of Native American sovereignty, community, human rights, and identity.”—Sarah Eppler Janda, American Historical Review
"The nonfiction complement to Tommy Orange’s best-selling novel There There . . . . An exemplary work that recovers an important period in modern California history and casts it in a new, richer light.”—Randall A. Lake, California History
A revealing portrait of Richard Oakes, the brilliant, charismatic Native American leader who was instrumental in the takeovers of Alcatraz, Fort Lawton, and Pit River and whose assassination in 1972 galvanized the Trail of Broken Treaties march on Washington, D.C. The life of this pivotal Akwesasne Mohawk activist is explored in an important new biography based on extensive archival research and interviews with key activists and family members.
Historian Kent Blansett offers a transformative and new perspective on the Red Power movement of the turbulent 1960s and the dynamic figure who helped to organize and champion it, telling the full story of Oakes’s life, his fight for Native American self-determination, and his tragic, untimely death. This invaluable history chronicles the mid-twentieth-century rise of Intertribalism, Indian Cities, and a national political awakening that continues to shape Indigenous politics and activism to this day.
“A powerful contribution to our understanding of Native American sovereignty, community, human rights, and identity.”—Sarah Eppler Janda, American Historical Review
"The nonfiction complement to Tommy Orange’s best-selling novel There There . . . . An exemplary work that recovers an important period in modern California history and casts it in a new, richer light.”—Randall A. Lake, California History
A revealing portrait of Richard Oakes, the brilliant, charismatic Native American leader who was instrumental in the takeovers of Alcatraz, Fort Lawton, and Pit River and whose assassination in 1972 galvanized the Trail of Broken Treaties march on Washington, D.C. The life of this pivotal Akwesasne Mohawk activist is explored in an important new biography based on extensive archival research and interviews with key activists and family members.
Historian Kent Blansett offers a transformative and new perspective on the Red Power movement of the turbulent 1960s and the dynamic figure who helped to organize and champion it, telling the full story of Oakes’s life, his fight for Native American self-determination, and his tragic, untimely death. This invaluable history chronicles the mid-twentieth-century rise of Intertribalism, Indian Cities, and a national political awakening that continues to shape Indigenous politics and activism to this day.
408 pages, Hardcover
Published September 25, 2018
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318 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 24, 2019
I thought I knew something about Richard Oakes, but realized I only knew of him. not about him. Until you've read a well-researched biography, like this one written by Dr. Blansett, you can't actually know the person. Not only did I learn about the man, I learned about the period. The beginning of Native Nationalism, Intertribalism, and the Red Power Movement. Dr. Blansett asks several haunting questions, but two stuck with me: "Is freedom granted, or inherent?" and "What must change for Native Nations to be free?"
Learning about the man and the period make this book well worth reading.
Learning about the man and the period make this book well worth reading.
October 19, 2022
This one is really worth a read. It's especially good for university classes on Native American history since it covers so many key events of the twentieth century--the Great Depression, WWII, Relocation, Termination, Alcatraz, Red Power, fish-ins, fights for land and environmental justice. It also does a great job of explaining and illustrating "Indian cities" to show how Indigenous people made their own urban spaces in locations like Brooklyn, San Francisco, and Seattle. Hats off to Kent Blansett. The amount of research that went into this is astounding.
February 26, 2023
For centuries Americans had been drowned in popular stereotypes and misinformation about Native peoples derived from literature, dime novels, wild west shows, movies, television, mascots, and a host of other sources.
And:
[after the "Star-Spangled Banner" mock:]
"I was born in a land / I don't think you understand / God damn / What I am / I'm a native of this place / Please don't kick me in my face / My race / Has been disgraced ... "
—from Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Johnny, Kick a Hole in the SKY" (1989, Mother's Milk album)
So:
Overturning termination legislation ended up commanding most of Richard Oakes's political life. In 1953, the same year that saw the passing of famed Sac and Fox athlete Jim Thorpe and the end of the Korean War, Congress passed Public Law 280 and House Concurrent Resolution 108, which highlighted Butler's attempt to terminate the federal trust status of federally recognized nations (or every Native nation represented under the 1934 IRA). Both of these legislative measures of the "Red Scare" era sought to hand civil and criminal jurisdiction of Tribes over to the state and to terminate treaty and trust responsibilities with more than one hundred Tribes, including all Tribes within California, New York, Florida, and Texas.24 The real-life impact of terminating federal jurisdiction was enormous: (1) Mohawk citizens could be arrested, tried, and prosecuted in biased state courts; (2) Mohawk businesses faced further regulations by state laws and jurisdictions; (3) millions of acres of Indian lands were stripped of federal protection or trust status; and (4) the privatization and exploitation of Indigenous resources and lands would be greatly accelerated. While the mid-1950s was a time of intense debate over civil rights and desegregation, the adverse effects of this mood had a devastating impact on Indian policy. Lawmakers viewed reservations as federally sponsored segregation and a haven for communists. The elimination of federal trust status, or termination, was championed under the banner of national civil rights reform and anticommunism.25 Nevada Senator George Malone followed the influence of McCarthyism when he supported termination measures with these words: "While we are spending billions of dollars fighting Communism... we are at the same ... [etc.; you get the IDEA ... 🙄 ]
And THUS:
"When history books are full of shit / I become the anarchist / I'm pissed / At this / What am I supposed to do / I feel like I'm cut in two / Confused / By rules / Do these two cultures clash / Or am I living in the past?"
—Chili Peppers, "Johnny," op. cit.
Funny. Oakes's family and friends remind me of the Guevaras — another family story of "progress" and pushing-uphill that was little-heralded up 'til the end of the millennium, but now is coming to light (in these "Black Lives MATTER" days) as off-handedly and simple as pie ...
🤔
READ THIS BOOK!!!
Yes.
😉
👍👍👍
#YEAH
And:
[after the "Star-Spangled Banner" mock:]
"I was born in a land / I don't think you understand / God damn / What I am / I'm a native of this place / Please don't kick me in my face / My race / Has been disgraced ... "
—from Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Johnny, Kick a Hole in the SKY" (1989, Mother's Milk album)
So:
Overturning termination legislation ended up commanding most of Richard Oakes's political life. In 1953, the same year that saw the passing of famed Sac and Fox athlete Jim Thorpe and the end of the Korean War, Congress passed Public Law 280 and House Concurrent Resolution 108, which highlighted Butler's attempt to terminate the federal trust status of federally recognized nations (or every Native nation represented under the 1934 IRA). Both of these legislative measures of the "Red Scare" era sought to hand civil and criminal jurisdiction of Tribes over to the state and to terminate treaty and trust responsibilities with more than one hundred Tribes, including all Tribes within California, New York, Florida, and Texas.24 The real-life impact of terminating federal jurisdiction was enormous: (1) Mohawk citizens could be arrested, tried, and prosecuted in biased state courts; (2) Mohawk businesses faced further regulations by state laws and jurisdictions; (3) millions of acres of Indian lands were stripped of federal protection or trust status; and (4) the privatization and exploitation of Indigenous resources and lands would be greatly accelerated. While the mid-1950s was a time of intense debate over civil rights and desegregation, the adverse effects of this mood had a devastating impact on Indian policy. Lawmakers viewed reservations as federally sponsored segregation and a haven for communists. The elimination of federal trust status, or termination, was championed under the banner of national civil rights reform and anticommunism.25 Nevada Senator George Malone followed the influence of McCarthyism when he supported termination measures with these words: "While we are spending billions of dollars fighting Communism... we are at the same ... [etc.; you get the IDEA ... 🙄 ]
And THUS:
"When history books are full of shit / I become the anarchist / I'm pissed / At this / What am I supposed to do / I feel like I'm cut in two / Confused / By rules / Do these two cultures clash / Or am I living in the past?"
—Chili Peppers, "Johnny," op. cit.
Funny. Oakes's family and friends remind me of the Guevaras — another family story of "progress" and pushing-uphill that was little-heralded up 'til the end of the millennium, but now is coming to light (in these "Black Lives MATTER" days) as off-handedly and simple as pie ...
🤔
READ THIS BOOK!!!
Yes.
😉
👍👍👍
#YEAH
April 9, 2024
This is the story of a working class American who saw that change was needed in the situation of Native-Americans, a group of which he was a member.
Son of an iron-worker, and sometime professional boxer, Richard Oakes went into the same field as happens so often because unions, usually very exclusive, look kindly on the new generation taking over from the old.
Seeing the plight of the "Indians" initially among his particular tribe in northern New York State and southern Canada, Oakes observed demonstrations and began participating in them with the full cooperation of his wife, Annie. Taking on work at San Francisco State College, Oakes worked to find staffing for courses on Indian culture with the full cooperation of the college president.
Though Alcatraz, left abandoned by the federal government after it closed as a prison, had been occupied briefly in the past, Oakes had the idea of a long term occupation in keeping with other such actions he had seen that took over abandoned federal facilities, surging in number with the Red Power movement that was a part of the turbulent days of the late 1960's and early 1970's that convulsed America's youth during the Vietnam War.
But Oakes stayed only a matter of weeks before the death of his daughter in a fall down a stairwell left the family distraught and unable to stay on the island amid factional strife. Though Oakes had departed, the Alcatraz occupation continued for 19 months as federal authorities were on the back foot and eager to compromise rather than confront as confrontation only promised chaos and grievances were well founded.
Richard Oakes, like so many working class men, was no stranger to fighting and bars were often places to gather to discuss how things were going and what should be done in days to come. In a tragic incident an assailant in a bar broke a pool cue over Oakes' head giving him a concussion and a skull fracture requiring months of learning to speak anew and left him limping.
His life ended on a lonely road where he was walking when he was shot to death. The shooter claimed self-defense and a jury ruled not guilty. At no time in his life did Oakes approach what would be called a middle class life of security. His iron-working days provided a good income, but he made the decision to make a difference for his people rather than sit back and enjoy life.
This book is testimony to the willingness of government officials to work for the redress of grievances, as mentioned in the Constitution, something that seems far in the past in these days of nothing but shouting and name-calling in Congress while wealth is served and we the people draw little from legislation that so quickly sends weapons abroad for no national purpose.
The book includes a very powerful, though posed, photo of Annie and Richard Oakes seated with several of their companions while at Alcatraz. You can view it at https://ictnews.org/news/richard-oake...
Son of an iron-worker, and sometime professional boxer, Richard Oakes went into the same field as happens so often because unions, usually very exclusive, look kindly on the new generation taking over from the old.
Seeing the plight of the "Indians" initially among his particular tribe in northern New York State and southern Canada, Oakes observed demonstrations and began participating in them with the full cooperation of his wife, Annie. Taking on work at San Francisco State College, Oakes worked to find staffing for courses on Indian culture with the full cooperation of the college president.
Though Alcatraz, left abandoned by the federal government after it closed as a prison, had been occupied briefly in the past, Oakes had the idea of a long term occupation in keeping with other such actions he had seen that took over abandoned federal facilities, surging in number with the Red Power movement that was a part of the turbulent days of the late 1960's and early 1970's that convulsed America's youth during the Vietnam War.
But Oakes stayed only a matter of weeks before the death of his daughter in a fall down a stairwell left the family distraught and unable to stay on the island amid factional strife. Though Oakes had departed, the Alcatraz occupation continued for 19 months as federal authorities were on the back foot and eager to compromise rather than confront as confrontation only promised chaos and grievances were well founded.
Richard Oakes, like so many working class men, was no stranger to fighting and bars were often places to gather to discuss how things were going and what should be done in days to come. In a tragic incident an assailant in a bar broke a pool cue over Oakes' head giving him a concussion and a skull fracture requiring months of learning to speak anew and left him limping.
His life ended on a lonely road where he was walking when he was shot to death. The shooter claimed self-defense and a jury ruled not guilty. At no time in his life did Oakes approach what would be called a middle class life of security. His iron-working days provided a good income, but he made the decision to make a difference for his people rather than sit back and enjoy life.
This book is testimony to the willingness of government officials to work for the redress of grievances, as mentioned in the Constitution, something that seems far in the past in these days of nothing but shouting and name-calling in Congress while wealth is served and we the people draw little from legislation that so quickly sends weapons abroad for no national purpose.
The book includes a very powerful, though posed, photo of Annie and Richard Oakes seated with several of their companions while at Alcatraz. You can view it at https://ictnews.org/news/richard-oake...
December 28, 2019
This important book deserves to be better-known. It fills a gap in the literature documenting the history of the Red Power movement and provides details of Richard Oakes’ activism beyond his pivotal role in spearheading the 1969 Indians of All Tribes’ occupation of Alcatraz Island.
Kent Blansett traces the charismatic Mohawk organizer’s life from the St. Regis reservation in New York state through his early years as an ironworker to his move to San Francisco and his growing involvement with Native American struggles for sovereignty and land justice. As A Journey to Freedom makes clear, Oakes’ campaigning took a heavy toll on him and his young family, eventually costing Oakes his life.
The seeds of another book are in this volume, a book I would love to see written. In providing context for land rights actions in New York, Washington state, and California, Blansett discusses the emergence of Indian Cities - specifically in Brooklyn, San Francisco, and Seattle - and emphasizes their crucial role in fostering and supporting the intertribalism that led to actions such as the occupations of Alcatraz and Washington’s Fort Lawton along with the establishment of Native American Studies programs in universities. I glimpsed a history of urban Indians that is largely hidden and I wanted to learn more.
This fine biography of Richard Oakes will ensure that neither he nor his legacy will not be forgotten.
Kent Blansett traces the charismatic Mohawk organizer’s life from the St. Regis reservation in New York state through his early years as an ironworker to his move to San Francisco and his growing involvement with Native American struggles for sovereignty and land justice. As A Journey to Freedom makes clear, Oakes’ campaigning took a heavy toll on him and his young family, eventually costing Oakes his life.
The seeds of another book are in this volume, a book I would love to see written. In providing context for land rights actions in New York, Washington state, and California, Blansett discusses the emergence of Indian Cities - specifically in Brooklyn, San Francisco, and Seattle - and emphasizes their crucial role in fostering and supporting the intertribalism that led to actions such as the occupations of Alcatraz and Washington’s Fort Lawton along with the establishment of Native American Studies programs in universities. I glimpsed a history of urban Indians that is largely hidden and I wanted to learn more.
This fine biography of Richard Oakes will ensure that neither he nor his legacy will not be forgotten.
January 19, 2020
Wish the editors had bothered to proofread to eliminate a fair number of repeated passages.
Beyond that, an important addition to Native Studies and the history of the Sixties. Oakes, who was the face of Indians of All Tribes during the early stages of the Alcatraz occupation, is an under-recognized activist, whose personal journey is nearly archetypal, up to and including his assassination--shamefully the killer was acquited--in 1972. Blansett does an excellent job tracking the connections between tribal specificity and the intertribal (he argues convincingly that's a better phrasing than "pan-Indian") dimensions of Red Power. There are excellent local histories of the "Indian Cities" of Brooklyn, San Francisco and Seattle, as well as the Akwesasne Mohawk community that provided Oakes with his grounding.
Beyond that, an important addition to Native Studies and the history of the Sixties. Oakes, who was the face of Indians of All Tribes during the early stages of the Alcatraz occupation, is an under-recognized activist, whose personal journey is nearly archetypal, up to and including his assassination--shamefully the killer was acquited--in 1972. Blansett does an excellent job tracking the connections between tribal specificity and the intertribal (he argues convincingly that's a better phrasing than "pan-Indian") dimensions of Red Power. There are excellent local histories of the "Indian Cities" of Brooklyn, San Francisco and Seattle, as well as the Akwesasne Mohawk community that provided Oakes with his grounding.
May 3, 2025
I just think it is so cool that I am able to read a book published by one of my current professors. On top of that, he also was the first to publish a biography about Richard Oakes, which is even more awesome.
This was a very compelling biography about a man who laid the foundations for the Red Power movement in San Francisco. It was a hard read because when you read it, you really need to sit down and focus (which is hard to do), but the topic matter was engaging and refreshing. It was all new information that I never had the opportunity to learn until now.
This was a very compelling biography about a man who laid the foundations for the Red Power movement in San Francisco. It was a hard read because when you read it, you really need to sit down and focus (which is hard to do), but the topic matter was engaging and refreshing. It was all new information that I never had the opportunity to learn until now.
December 16, 2018
This story is interesting and I was glad to learn more about Richard Oakes. However, the author seemed to defend/be an apologist for Oakes’s more problematic behavior, and it made me uncertain that I was hearing the full story.
December 6, 2022
Interesting and well-drawn biography (if it feels a bit biased as the author clearly admires Oakes and wishes to defend him), but needed some editing for repetition, lack of context in some parts, and occasionally writing mechanics.
August 27, 2018
Entertaining History Lesson about Richard Oakes, never heard of him before but read it anyway because of my wife. Surely should be read as he was a very fascinating person.
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June 7, 2019323.1197 B643 2018
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April 7, 2020Excellent example of biography as methodology for understanding American Indian history, particularly that of the Red Power movement. Blansett's intervention on Intertribalism is most compelling.
May 18, 2021
I heard a podcast featuring the author and was captivated by the subject. The book did not disappoint. Easy to read, well researched and informative. It was excellent!
August 17, 2021
an important book & history
August 27, 2021
Well researched and written. An important read that I’m dissapointed to only be learning about years after my public education in the US. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews