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

Angela Davis Release Speech Angela Davis Release Speech
Format: mp3Collection: Black Panther Party general
Angela Davis, African-American leader, scholar, and prison abolitionist. She was charged in connection with events at the Marin Courthouse on August 7, 1970. this is from her first statement after her acquittal.
Ossie Davis Recites Frederick Douglas Ossie Davis Recites Frederick Douglas
Format: mp3Producers: Claude Marks, Mark Schwartz, Lincoln BergmanProgram: Real Dragon, assorted insertsCollection: Black Liberation
A sample of Ossie Davis reciting Frederick Douglass' “West India Emancipation Speech" originally delivered on August 3, 1857. Davis' narration was delivered at an event for the San Quintin 6 on March 3, 2000.
Uchechi Kalu Reads They Came for Me Uchechi Kalu Reads They Came for Me
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Poem on repression and liberation read by the author, Uchechi Kalu. Uchechi Kalu is a Nigerian-born poet who has conducted writing workshops at schools, prisons and community organizations.
Chrystos Reads Authenticity Chrystos Reads Authenticity
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Menominee rights activist and poet Chrystos read Marilyn Buck's piece on violence against urban Black youth.
Staajabu Reads Black August Staajabu Reads Black August
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Staajabu reads Marilyn Buck's poem in memory of the those who lost their lives through imprisonment or death for Black liberation.
Kiilu Nyasha Reads In Memory of Kuwasi Balagoon Kiilu Nyasha Reads In Memory of Kuwasi Balagoon
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Kiilu Nyasha reads her poem in memory of Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army leader Kuwasi Balagoon, who died in prison in 1986. Kiilu Nyasha is a revolutionary artist, activist and journalist in the liberation struggle for over 35 years. A former Black Panther, she is a radio and newspaper journalist who has done much to keep political prisoners in the public eye.
Presente! Performs Blues for Shaka Presente! Performs Blues for Shaka
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Presente! performs Marilyn Buck's poem on the Jim Crow era, accompanied by music.
Carry It On Carry It On
Author: Assata ShakurFormat: mp3Collection: Assata Shakur
The Tradition written by Assata Shakur.
Excerpt from SLA Support Rally Excerpt from SLA Support Rally
Publisher: KPFAFormat: mp3Collection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
Excerpt taken from KPFA Memorial Show for the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) 6/17/1974.