Search Help

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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

Jane Spielman and Sylvia Baraldini on Zimbabwe liberation Jane Spielman and Sylvia Baraldini on Zimbabwe liberation
Call Number: AFR 013Format: Cass A & BCollection: May 19th Communist Organization
Jane Spielman of the May 19th Communist Organization welcomes the Material Aid Campaign for ZANU and the Women’s Organization against Genocide to New York. Discusses the recently liberated Zimbabwe, and how the OAU (Organization of African Unity) and ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) fought for independence and support for reconstruction. Sylvia Baraldini, National director of the May 19th Communist Organization, celebrates the victory of Zimbabwe liberation and free elections. She discusses the rebuilding of Zimbabwe as a socialist society.
Serge Mukendi of the Congolese National Liberation Front speaks on the struggle of the Congolese people Serge Mukendi of the Congolese National Liberation Front speaks on the struggle of the Congolese people
Call Number: AFR 025Format: Cass A & BCollection: Zaire-DRC
On the 25th Anniversary of Patrice Lumumba’s death, Serge Mukendi of the Congolese National Liberation Front, speaks the struggle of the Congolese people. He speaks on the merger of the Lumumba Congolese National Movement and the Congolese National Liberation Front into a higher level of development in the Congo and the unity of resistance movements. He reminds the interviewer of the utter discontent and worsening postcolonial economic, social, and political conditions of the people. He calls people to remember what Lumumba fought and died for, and to be united in resistance against state militancy.
Conference on liberation struggles in Zimbabwe and the Congo. Conference on liberation struggles in Zimbabwe and the Congo.
Call Number: AFR 034Format: Cass A & BCollection: African liberation movements
Conference on liberation struggles in Africa, particularly Zimbabwe and the Congo. Judy Clark of the ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) Women’s League speaks on the ongoing struggle for liberation and reconstruction in Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, and Congo. The ZANU Women’s League raises support for women fighting for liberation and equality. Serge Mukendi of the FLNC (Congolese National Liberation Front) speaks on the history of the struggle for independence in the Congo, and calls the people to fight for liberation against white colonialist structures. Judy Clark again speaks on the legacy and power of Patrice Lumumba in the continuing struggle for liberation in the Congo. Alajo Adegbalola, Minister of Defense for the Provisional government of the RNA (Republic of New Africa), speaks on the importance of the unity of the RNA in fighting for liberation in Africa. He also speaks on the history of black person’s struggle in America and the Civil Rights Movement.
Grito de Lares Commemoration Event Grito de Lares Commemoration Event
Date: 10/1/1988Call Number: LA 052Format: Cass A & BProgram: Live EventCollection: Puerto Rico
Event Commemorating el Grito de Lares (1868, Puerto Rican Independence struggle) with Humberto Pagan Hernandez and the National Committee to Free the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War. Dedicated to Alejandrina Torres, William Guillermo Morales, and Filberto Ojeda Rios. Leslie Mulin of the Free PR Committee reads a statement of solidarity. Gloria Alonzo reads a statement from Adolfo Matos on the criminalizaiton of the Independence Movement through the judicial proceedings in Hartford, CT. Humberto Pagan talks about PR colonial history and resistance.
Conference on liberation and reconstruction struggles in Southern Africa Conference on liberation and reconstruction struggles in Southern Africa
Call Number: AFR 035Format: Cass A & BCollection: African liberation movements
Continuation of AFR 034 See enclosed note in AFR 035 Conference on liberation and reconstruction struggles in Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. A representative of SWAPO (South West African People’s Organization) speaks about the international community being in solidarity with Southern African countries, and asks for support for SWAPO’s continued struggle for liberation in Namibia. A member of the Zimbabwe admission to the United Nations speaks about the bonds formed between liberation fighters in Africa and internationally. He speaks about the leaders of ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union), the ANC (African National Congress), and the PAC (Pan African Congress). He speaks on the history of the struggles for independence and human rights in Southern Africa, and the contued struggle for liberation. Sylvia Baraldini of the May 19th Communist Organization speaks on the National Campaign in solidarity with the ZANU Women’s League. She talks about the lessons of the struggle for liberation in Zimbabwe and looks at the process of reconstruction. A permanent representative of the PAC of Azania to the United Nations speaks about South Africa. He comments on South African president P.W. Botha’s refusal to erode Apartheid through economic means. He talks about a socialist solution incorporating equal distribution of wealth and power, and calls people to work together to fight oppression.
African American historians discuss the African tradition and history in the United States. African American historians discuss the African tradition and history in the United States.
Call Number: AFR 040Format: Cass A & BProducers: WBAIProgram: WBAI African Liberation Day Special ProgramCollection: Africa- General Resources
A WBAI radio program recorded in 1997. African Historian John Henrik Clarke, Historian and Temple University African American Studies Professor Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, and Syracuse University African American Studies Professor Horace Campbell discuss the African tradition and history in the United States. They speak about the forced migration of Africans to America, the history and injustices of slavery and the development of African consciousness.
Event celebrating 40 years of African Independence Event celebrating 40 years of African Independence
Call Number: AFR 043Format: Cass A & BProducers: WBAIProgram: WBAI Special Program: Southern Africa - Africa at 40Collection: African liberation movements
Continuation of the “Africa at 40” Program. An event celebrating 40 years of African independence. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and President Sam Nujoma of Namibia speak about Ghana’s 1957 independence from white imperialist colonialism and the formation of the OAU (Organization of African Unity), spurring the drive for unity among all African nations. President Joachim Chisano of Mozambique talks about how the fight for independence was tough, but is not over because while classical colonialism is over, African nations have not realized true independence. Africa lacks economic and social freedom, but they can be accomplished through countries uniting in their struggles.
International African Forum and the celebration of Elombe Brath’s 85th Birthday International African Forum and the celebration of Elombe Brath’s 85th Birthday
Date: 9/30/1994Call Number: AFR 044Format: Cass A & BProducers: The Patrice Lumumba CoalitionProgram: Making Our Struggle A Lifetime Committment: The Only Way Forward For African Worldwide LiberationCollection: African liberation movements
An international African Forum and the celebration of Elombe Brath’s 85th Birthday. Speakers include: Uganda Ambassador to the UN (United Nations) Ambassador Perezi Kamunanwire, Dr. Betty Shabazz, Sonny Carson, Don Rojas, Les Payne, Bernard White, moderator,and Viola Plummer. Viola Plummer gives an introduction to Elombe Brath, speaking on his accomplishments over his lifetime. Kamunanwire speaks about the history of the struggles in Africa, about the superficial divisions between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda made by the Europeans, the evils of colonialism, and how colonialists use the people of Africa to divide and rule each other. He gives a brief update on the status of most African countries, and praises Elombe Brath’s continued work with those who are liberating the African continent. Next, Sonny Carson speaks about having committment to freedom and the black people, and remembering those who have been committed to liberation, like Elombe Brath. Les Payne speaks on the power of journalism and the ongoing struggle for empowerment for black Africans like Brath. Lastly, Don Rojas, former executive editor of Amsterdam of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), celebrates Elombe Brath’s work against oppression and for the People’s University of Harlem.
Panel discussion on the crisis of racism, PART 1 Panel discussion on the crisis of racism, PART 1
Date: 5/1/1962Call Number: KP 094Format: Cass A & BProducers: Public Affairs Department of WBAI, Pacifica RadioCollection: Black Liberation
A panel discussion moderated by Murray Kempton, James Farmer, William Worthy, and Malcolm X, discussing the crisis of racism in the US. James Farmer, National Director of CORE (Congress of Racial Equality), speaks about the problems of hatred, racism, and exclusivity. He says that racism is the misuse of words that mean different things to different people, and is really the belief of the superiority of one race over another. William worthy, an American journalist, poses the question: if a Civil Rights Movement involves white money, does it betray the movement? He speaks about how serious racism is in America, and that whites need a devastating event to get them to overcome their set ways. Next, Malcolm X speaks about how it is impossible for black Americans to realize the same dream as whites. He also speaks about withstanding the racism if it means one could know and fight the enemy. Malcolm X tells the people that it is ok for black people in America to fight back in self-defense because theirs is the most colonized country in the world. The panel discussion ends with a question and answer session about racism and atrocities against blacks fighting for equality.
Puerto Rican Plebiscite Puerto Rican Plebiscite
Date: 8/28/1989Call Number: LA 055Format: Cass A & BProducers: Gloria AlonzoProgram: public talkCollection: Puerto Rico
Jose Lopez gives public talk on the Plebiscite and Puerto Rican status as a Free Associated State. Welcome by Gloria Alonzo. Lisa Roth talks about Huey P. Newton’s funeral and his legacy. Lopez talks about Pedro Albizu Campus’ legal trial and it’s legacy. He talks about the plebicscite as a form of consulting the people you conquer. Talks about Puerto Rican Prisoners of War and Political Prisoners. question & answer.