Search Help

How does this work?
There are many ways to search the collections of the Freedom Archives. Below is a brief guide that will help you conduct effective searches. Note, anytime you search for anything in the Freedom Archives, the first results that appear will be our digitized items. Information for items that have yet to be scanned or yet to be digitized can still be viewed, but only by clicking on the show link that will display the hidden (non-digitized) items. If you are interested in accessing these non-digitized materials, please email info@freedomarchives.org.
Exploring the Collections without the Search Bar
Under the heading Browse By Collection, you’ll notice most of the Freedom Archives’ major collections. These collections have an image as well as a short description of what you’ll find in that collection. Click on that image to instantly explore that specific collection.
Basic Searching
You can always type what you’re looking for into the search bar. Certain searches may generate hundreds of results, so sometimes it will help to use quotation marks to help narrow down your results. For instance, searching for the phrase Black Liberation will generate all of our holdings that contain the words Black and Liberation, while searching for “Black Liberation” (in quotation marks) will only generate our records that have those two words next to each other.
Advanced Searching
The Freedom Archives search site also understands Boolean search logic. Click on this link for a brief tutorial on how to use Boolean search logic. Our search function also understands “fuzzy searches.” Fuzzy searches utilize the (*) and will find matches even when users misspell words or enter in only partial words for the search. For example, searching for liber* will produce results for liberation/liberate/liberates/etc.
Keyword Searches
You’ll notice that under the heading KEYWORDS, there are a number of words, phrases or names that describe content. Sometimes these are also called “tags.” Clicking on these words is essentially the same as conducting a basic search.

Search Results

Assata Shakur: clips from her 1980 address to the people after her escape from prison Assata Shakur: clips from her 1980 address to the people after her escape from prison
Call Number: PM 227Format: CassetteCollection: Assata Shakur
This program is an edited version of her address to the people after she escaped. She begins the recording by stating that she loves everyone and encourages everyone to continue to struggle for our liberation. Assata talks about how Black people are constantly under attack by the poor school system, infiltration of drugs, welfare system, police state, etc. She talks about the necessity for a Black Nation and how Black women must play a key role in the struggle for liberation. She says that they are the most closely related to the struggle because of their position in White American society. Assata talks about the direction of the US government and how it is continually becoming more racist and fascist; how the government sees Black peoples as expendable and just "a thorn in their side."
Assata Shakur: clips from her 1980 address to the people after her escape from prison Assata Shakur: clips from her 1980 address to the people after her escape from prison
Call Number: PM 228Format: CassetteCollection: Assata Shakur
Same as PM 227. This program is an edited version of her address to the people after she escaped. She begins the recording by stating that she loves everyone and encourages everyone to continue to struggle for our liberation. Assata talks about how Black people are constantly under attack by the poor school system, infiltration of drugs, welfare system, police state, etc. She talks about the necessity for a Black Nation and how Black women must play a key role in the struggle for liberation. She says that they are the most closely related to the struggle because of their position in White American society. Assata talks about the direction of the US government and how it is continually becoming more racist and fascist; how the government sees Black peoples as expendable and just "a thorn in their side."
Photo with Julio Rosado and Guillermo Morales Photo with Julio Rosado and Guillermo Morales
Format: GraphicCollection: Assata Shakur
In An Historic Photo: New Afrikan and Puerto Rican Struggles meet in Cuba
Determined to Kill a Field Nigger Determined to Kill a Field Nigger
Publisher: Assata Shakur Defense CommitteeFormat: FlyerCollection: Assata Shakur
Chronology of the State of New Jerseys attempts to convict Assata Shakur.
Sundiata Convicted Sundiata Convicted
Publisher: Friends of Assata Shakur and Sundiata AcoliFormat: StatementCollection: Assata Shakur
Bulletin summarizes the conviction of Sundiata Acoli.
Why is Assata on Trial Why is Assata on Trial
Author: Edwin B. HoganPublisher: National Coalition to Defend Assata ShakurFormat: ArticleCollection: Assata Shakur
Reprint of an article originally appearing in Contrast, Ontario Canada's Black Community Newspaper
Carry It On Carry It On
Author: Assata ShakurFormat: mp3Collection: Assata Shakur
The Tradition written by Assata Shakur.
Opening Statement by Assata Shakur Opening Statement by Assata Shakur
Author: Assata ShakurPublisher: Assata Shakur Defense CommitteeFormat: StatementCollection: Assata Shakur
Read at her trial
Demand a Stop of Undue Harassment to Assata and the Women of Clinton Demand a Stop of Undue Harassment to Assata and the Women of Clinton
Format: FlyerCollection: Assata Shakur
Highlights Seven Changes in Administration Policy and Practice since Assata arrived.
Joanne Chesimard is Not Receiving a Fair Jury Joanne Chesimard is Not Receiving a Fair Jury
Publisher: National Coalition to Defend Assata ShakurFormat: FlyerCollection: Assata Shakur
flyer with updates about jury selection in Assata's trial