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

Discussion of the role of self defense in African and African American liberation. Discussion of the role of self defense in African and African American liberation.
Call Number: AFR 045Format: Cass A & BProgram: The Question of African ManhoodCollection: Robert F. Williams!
Discussion on the role of self defense in African and African American liberation. Robert Harris, Elombe Brath, and Vicki praise Robert Williams’ work and courage to free the black people. Elombe Brath speaks about the “May 8th Case” in New York in which 8 people were arrested for not cooperating with the state. Robert Harris speaks the struggle for African liberation and comments on how the conditions currently are the same as what Robert Williams faced in 1961. He concludes by calling the people to use self - defense to struggle against the state as Robert Williams did. Elombe Brath celebrates the memory of Robert Williams. He talks about the Williams’ sacrifices and work toward liberation, and the support he received from both blacks and whites. He points out that the people need to be educated to get anywhere in life. Lastly, Robert Harris speaks about African Nationalism and his admiration of Robert Williams because he rose to the challenge to free the black people and fight the media. He contemplates the role and importance of self defense in the struggle for liberation.
Self Defense, Self Respect & Self Determination: A Conversation with Mabel Williams and Kathleen Cleaver - Part 1 Self Defense, Self Respect & Self Determination: A Conversation with Mabel Williams and Kathleen Cleaver - Part 1
Date: 3/14/2004Call Number: CD 171Format: CDProducers: NRPCollection: Robert F. Williams!
Self Defense, Self Respect & Self Determination: A Conversation with Mabel Williams and Kathleen Cleaver, introduced by Angela Davis. Addressing the subjugated history of the Black Liberation Movement.
Self Defense, Self Respect & Self Determination: A Conversation with Mabel Williams and Kathleen Cleaver - Part 2 Self Defense, Self Respect & Self Determination: A Conversation with Mabel Williams and Kathleen Cleaver - Part 2
Date: 3/14/2004Call Number: CD 172Format: CDProducers: NRPCollection: Robert F. Williams!
Self Defense, Self Respect & Self Determination: A Conversation with Mabel Williams and Kathleen Cleaver, introduced by Angela Davis. Addressing the subjugated history of the Black Liberation Movement.
Mabel Williams interviewed by Walter Turner Mabel Williams interviewed by Walter Turner
Date: 3/4/2004Call Number: CD 173Format: CDProducers: Walter TurnerCollection: Robert F. Williams!
Interview with Mabel Williams by Walter Turmer for Africa Today and Hard Knock Radio.
Self Respect, Self Defense & Self Determination; a Moderated conversation with Mabel Williams and Kathleen Cleaver Self Respect, Self Defense & Self Determination; a Moderated conversation with Mabel Williams and Kathleen Cleaver
Date: 3/14/2004Call Number: V 134Format: VHSProducers: Collision Course VideoCollection: Robert F. Williams!
Self Respect, Self Defense & Self Determination An event held at the First Congregational Church in Oakland on Sunday, March 14, 2004 with Mabel Williams and Kathleen Cleaver. Both women were welcomed and introduced by Angela Davis. These two inspiring women of the 60s Black liberation struggle met to share their personal experiences - resisting the KKK and police repression, forced into exile by government repression, and their international experiences in Third World nations. Mabel Williams, with her late husband Robert F. Williams, met with Malcolm X, Ho Chi Minh, Che Guevara and Mao Tse Tung to help internationalize support for the Black Liberation Movement. Kathleen Cleaver was Communications Secretary and the first woman on the Central Committee of the Black Panther Party. The event was sponsored by The Freedom Archives in partnership with: East Side Arts Alliance Community Center in the San Antonio district of Oakland, California Malcolm X Grassroots Movement - Oakland
A Conversation with Mabel Williams at Chabot College A Conversation with Mabel Williams at Chabot College
Date: 3/17/2004Call Number: V 148Format: VHSProducers: Chabot CollegeCollection: Robert F. Williams!
Mabel Williams speaks with a college audience about the origins of the Black liberation movement. Includes questions and answers.
The Liberation Hour: Self Respect, Self Defense & Self Determination The Liberation Hour: Self Respect, Self Defense & Self Determination
Date: 3/14/2004Call Number: CD 196Format: CDProducers: KPFKCollection: Robert F. Williams!
An edited program made for use at KPFK of the Oakland Event 3/14/2004 with Kathleen Cleaver and Mabel Williams.
Radio Free Dixie Radio Free Dixie
Date: 7/30/1965Call Number: RFW 001Format: CDProgram: Radio Free DixieCollection: Robert F. Williams!
We have no legal rights to reproduce or distribute this item! Several Short Cuban voice intros. The second one says- "broadcasting like Paul Revere, with a call for unity and armed self-defense." Jazz...then drums. "at the back door of Dixie, in the year of Revelation." "My Lord What a Morning" opens documentary piece on 1963 Birmingham Sunday bombing, explosion sound effects, 4 girls dead, 16-year old shot, others killed, strong Malcolm actuality--"this didn't happen in Nazi Germany, but here...it wasn't a dream it was a nightmare...the government is guilty." He's asked several questions, mentions Cuba and Vietnam. Comments on Dr. King. Africa, Asia, Latin America... applause at end. Upbeat music, then RFW commentary. "Mr. Charley rabble rouses against the people of Vietnam while brainwashing the oppressed Negro to accept non-violence. What a sham! ... Black men are forced to fight in white man's war. Greensboro, Alabama... Hitlerite... Georgia... racism without restraint yet chooses to label Black man a racist for refusing to submit to tyranny. A violent conflict of liberation..We must organize, unite... go underground..liberation is a serious undertaking. No shortcuts to freedom. In the spirit of 76..take to the streets...battle cry around the world...Freedom Freedom Freedom Now or Death!" 34:33 7/17/65 Pittsburgh Courier editorial on "Deacons of Justice" read by Mabel Williams. Government has miserably failed to protect the right to life. "The real surprise is that the Deacons were not formed long ago." Closing announcement. "Muy buenos noches and keep fighting for freedom."
Radio Free Dixie Radio Free Dixie
Date: 4/23/1965Call Number: RFW 002Format: CDProgram: Radio Free DixieCollection: Robert F. Williams!
We have no legal rights to reproduce or distribute this item! Opening announcement. Radio Free Dixie presents Malcolm's voice as a voice of prophecy. Music includes Swanee River /Old Folks at Home (Ray Charles). Malcolm discusses the contribution of the Black Muslim movement as militancy…dared to get loud in our 400 years. Got more militant than they intended. Role of Negro leaders to cool things down. Muslim and Black nationalist groups face acceptability to civil rights groups. Discusses the MauMau/African independence. Takes madness not sadness to change things. You need more than a Mau Mau in the US. Goodman, Schwerner, Cheney..we need a MauMau. Other atrocities...we needa MauMau and I'll be the first to join it." Then back to discussion of Islam. Organization of Afro-American Unity. Need to overcome divide and conquer tactics. Talk on 1965 and the Prospects for Freedom. Africa advances; Tanzania. Vietnam. It's criminal. Wrong is wrong. Mentions Wayne Morse, etc..if I'm anti-American, so are they. China exploded the bomb--a scientific breathrough, I for one was happy to hear that they had overcome so much backwardness. Poor people can do it as well as rich people. March on Washington/Civil Rights Bill---try to lessen power of the explosion/but not do anything about the material that is explosive. They'll try a Black cabinet member...nice joke about being "investigated." More on Chaney, Goodman, Schwerner. "We intend to go PREPARED...when registering to vote. Talks about the rebellions--in 1965 even more blood will flow...downtown as well as uptown..why? Have the causes been removed?
Radio Free Dixie Radio Free Dixie
Date: 12/11/1964Call Number: RFW 003Format: CDProgram: Radio Free DixieCollection: Robert F. Williams!
We have no legal rights to reproduce or distribute this item! Powerful militant statement by RFW. Opens with sax solo. Then Dixie tune…with opening announcement…mentions RAM. Uncle Toms may cry peace, but…under these conditions, peace would be to remain victims of savage oppressors. Racist social jungle. Where are the murderers of postman William Moore, of the 4 girls, of Medgar Evers, vicious killer cop murdererer of 15 year old Powell in NY? These Klan thugs are free tonight--as heroes of white supremacy. Murdered US Colonel Pinn...only action government took was to sound taps and give his widow a flag. Then discusses the Mae Mallory case and summarizes the so-called kidnapping. Reads story of Black woman civil rights demonstrators who rescues the police chief and she is arrrested! We are in battle and must conduct ourselves accordingly. A holding operation. Lists all the possible weapons...the bullet...a new spirit of meeting violence with violence. Our freedom and dignity is not negotiable...peace yes, it is truly wonderful...but Charley's concept of peace means war from cradle to the grave - Peace with dignity and justice. Take to the streets...battle cry again. Nina Simone...Mississippi Goddamn. Repeats of editorial from 7/18/1964 from Washington Afro American newspaper on the murder of educator named Colonel Lemuel Pinn and acquittal of two charged.