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

Report on the murder of George Jackson Report on the murder of George Jackson
Date: 9/12/1974Call Number: PM 054Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProgram: Prison MovementCollection: George Jackson
Report on assassination of George Jackson, including press conferences with warden James Park, Warden Lewis Nelson, State Director of Corrections Raymond Procunier, Georgia Jackson, and DA’s John Thorne and Floyd Silliman. Squeal last ten minutes of tape.
Black Liberation Army - Fact or Fantasy Black Liberation Army - Fact or Fantasy
Date: 1/1/1974Call Number: PM 165Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Ron Magee, Rest of the News, Claude Marks, Bruce Soloway, Mark SchwartzProgram: Rest of the NewsCollection: BLA
Interviews and discussion concerning the Black Liberation Army and it’s alleged members. The question is raised as to the actual existence of the group which some claim to be a fabrication of the media and police to justify increased repression of Black revolutionaries. Various criminal trials of black activists are looked at to reveal how the local Police, FBI, News Media, and U.S. Justice System have worked together to pursue a repressive course to combat what they see as a threat to the very structure of American Society. Interviews detail use of police violence and torture to intimidate and demoralize the black radical movement. The cases of the “New York Five”, Joanne Chesimard (Assata Shakur), and Fred Hilton are described, along with the killing of Fred Hampton and the imprisonment of Muhammad Arif and Victor Cumerbash. Black Liberation Army prisoners (Herman Bell and Gabriel Torres) are interviewed extensively. Family members speak to the violence and repression of the police at a press conference. The murder by police of Twyman Myers is extensively addressed.
Angela Davis on George Jackson and history of the modern-day prison movement Angela Davis on George Jackson and history of the modern-day prison movement
Date: 3/19/2001Call Number: PM 174Format: DATProducers: Claude Marks, Lincoln BergmanCollection: George Jackson
Claude Marks and Lincoln Bergman interview Angela Davis on the murder of George Jackson and the history of the modern-day prison movement.
Interview with Assata Shakur and Rita Bo Brown Interview with Assata Shakur and Rita Bo Brown
Call Number: PM 212Format: CassetteProducers: Barbara LubinskiCollection: Assata Shakur
This tape is a series of interviews between Assata Shakur and Rita Bo Brown. They both met each other in prison. (I believe) in This interview it is Assata that asks Bo to comment on this question: “Is there ways to prevent people (which has happened in the past alot) from getting engaged in armed struggle, by becoming very isolated?”
Freedom Now Prison Event Freedom Now Prison Event
Date: 9/13/1991Call Number: PM 223Format: CassetteCollection: Geronimo Pratt
Note: Tape at 0331. Muhjah Shakir hosts a Freedom Now event in commemoration of the Attica Uprising, the murder of George Jackson and the 21st year of Geronimo Ji-Jaga's imprisonment. The commemorative event is related to the ongoing conditions of the U.S. prison system and includes; updates on the lawsuit in behalf of Attica prisoners tortured after the uprising by Dennis Cunningham; recording of Leonard Peltier speaking on the Attica uprising, presented by Bobby Castillo; and an update on the conditions in the Special Housing Unit in Pelican Bay Prison by Corey Weinstein.
Interview with Assata Shakur and Rita Bo Brown Interview with Assata Shakur and Rita Bo Brown
Call Number: CD 290Format: CDProducers: Barbara LubinskiCollection: Assata Shakur
Same as PM212 This tape is a series of interviews between Assata Shakur and Rita Bo Brown. They both met each other in prison to discuss the isolation of those involved in armed struggle.
The Tashunka Witro Brigade Show, “Black August” The Tashunka Witro Brigade Show, “Black August”
Date: 8/25/2001Call Number: PM 243Format: CassetteProgram: Tashunka Witro Brigade ShowCollection: Black August Resistance
Part I This was a broadcast on KPOO 89.5 FM. The title of the episode was "Black August." The producers examine the definition of political prisoners and prisoners of war. With the definitions, they explore the different political prisoners in our American prison system and the suppression of these revolutionaries' vision and influence in history and society. The focus is primarily on the prison system's agenda against people of color, Hispanics, and Native American people to silence their revolutionary example. The prison Pelican Bay is defined as a tomb to silence revolutionaries and eliminate resistance. Black August, a celebration of resistance and determination in memory of freedom fighters that rebelled against the California prison system, is also acknowledged. Black August also represents self-discipline, change, love, peace, freedom, and life. Black August continues to be a time of severe lockdown to prevent prisoner resistance and revival. The producers analyze the oppression and murders of indigenous people and Latinos, along with the political repression that people of color face. The vision and dismantlement of the Muslim activist and the Islamic movement is addressed as well. The stories of revolutionaries such as Alvarro Nuna Hernandez, Jonathan Jackson, Katari Golden, George Jackson, Romaine Chip Fitzgerald, El Mahn Jahmeel, and El Hajj Malik Shabazz are told in relation to their roles as political prisoners. The political prisoners are honored as a fighting spirit within the prison system.
The Tashunka Witro Brigade Show, “Black August” The Tashunka Witro Brigade Show, “Black August”
Date: 8/25/2001Call Number: PM 244Format: CassetteProgram: Tashunka Witro Brigade ShowCollection: Black August Resistance
Black August, Part II This was a broadcast on KPOO 89.5 FM. The title of the episode was "Black August." The producers examine the definition of political prisoners and prisoners of war. With the definitions, they explore the different political prisoners in our American prison system and the suppression of these revolutionaries' vision and influence in history and society. The focus is primarily on the prison system's agenda against people of color, Hispanics, and Native American people to silence their revolutionary example. The prison Pelican Bay is defined as a tomb to silence revolutionaries and eliminate resistance. Black August, a celebration of resistance and determination in memory of freedom fighters that rebelled against the California prison system, is also acknowledged. Black August also represents self-discipline, change, love, peace, freedom, and life. Black August continues to be a time of severe lockdown to prevent prisoner resistance and revival. The producers analyze the oppression and murders of indigenous people and Latinos, along with the political repression that people of color face. The vision and dismantlement of the Muslim activist and the Islamic movement is addressed as well. The stories of revolutionaries such as Alvarro Nuna Hernandez, Jonathan Jackson, Katari Golden, George Jackson, Romaine Chip Fitzgerald, El Mahn Jahmeel, and El Hajj Malik Shabazz are told in relation to their roles as political prisoners. The political prisoners are honored as a fighting spirit within the prison system.
Geronimo Pratt at CNB Geronimo Pratt at CNB
Date: 9/20/2007Call Number: PM 353Format: Cass A & BCollection: Geronimo Pratt
Perspectives on political prisoners and the prison industrial complex. The Attica Rebellions of 1971 is discussed, David Johnson of the San Quentin 6 speaks. Johnson, who served time with Geronimo Pratt, speaks about co-authoring the 1970 Folsom Manifesto, which demanded prison justice and human rights. Dorsey Nunn, former prisoner and activist with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children also speaks.
On the Outside - Release of Geronimo On the Outside - Release of Geronimo
Date: 6/1/1997Call Number: PM 381Format: CassetteProducers: Prison Activist RadioProgram: On the OutsideCollection: Geronimo Pratt
Michael Novick on the release of Geronimo Pratt, report from the California Coalition of Women Prisoners, and interview with Big Black on Attica prisoner defense.