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

Herman Bell interview (2 of 3) Herman Bell interview (2 of 3)
Call Number: V 075Format: VHSProducers: John O’ReillyCollection: New York 3
Interview tape 2 of 3 of Herman Bell. Continues talking about Nuh and ho w he received his name and went from Albert to Nuh Washington. Asked about changing his name - both Jalil and Nuh changed their names and became Muslim, Herman did neither. Talks about the importance of freeing political prisoners - they are/were the leaders of the streets. Frustrated at how many young people (particularly men) in poor communities of color are turning against each other, assaulted by an intentional infestation of drugs, and have no guidance/traditions which could be passed on if the political prisoners were freed. Asked about his mentors - growing up he talks a lot about Malcolm X, mentions Patrice Lumumba and the case of the Congo. As early as 14, Bell was politicized by Malcolm. Discusses his resentment towards Ebony magazine for being so conservative and portraying a black petty bourgeoisie lifestyle. Discusses his home life and that his parents bought into the apple pie American dream myth, didn’t approve of Herman or his sister in the Black Panther Party. Discusses militarization of police throughout history, profiling, brutality, and surveillance. Reagan starting SWAT teams in California. Says that things are much worse for young black males today, demonized by the mainstream, the disparity of drug laws and heightened policing. Briefly discusses first trip to Watts after the rebellion - looked like a “war zone”. Watts and Huey talking about arming himself - two politicizing moments in his life.
Herman Bell interview (all 3 tapes) Herman Bell interview (all 3 tapes)
Call Number: V 077Format: VHSProducers: John O’ReillyCollection: New York 3
Compilation of Videos 74-76 (see those descriptions)
Jalil Muntaqim interview (3 of 4) Jalil Muntaqim interview (3 of 4)
Call Number: V 080Format: VHSProducers: John O’ReillyCollection: Jalil Muntaqim
Middle of his story from end of tape 2 about creating a national movement around freeing political prisoners. Met a white guy named Commie Mike who told him about the UPU, United Prisoners Union, formerly run by Popeye Jackson, who was just killed at the time. Contacts Sundiata Acoli about representing the E. Coast. Tremendous response from prisoners throughout the country (political and non) about UN appeal for clemency for political prisoners//prisoners of war. UPU was overwhelmed and so Prairie Fire Organizing Committee produced a pamphlet and brought attorney Katherine Burke from Amnesty International onto the case. Jalil taught her about domestic revolutionary struggle and she taught him about international law. Two different dynamics on the W. and E. Coast. W. Coast was progressive/revolutionary white folks and E. Coast was black folks in the Black Panther Party/RNA/APP and other revolutionary nationalists. Katherine went to Geneva and there was a huge international response given that the US always uses human rights against each other, but never discusses their own domestic HR abuses. So that racial tension caused a lot of sectarianism/factionalism thus an overall lull in the movement. Jalil has always written about political prisoners. Talks about Andrew Young, a US ambassador to the UN who was fired for acknowledging that the US has political prisoners - probably thousands - during a visit to Paris, France. Jalil has tried to get a prisoner exchange between US and Cuba - trade political prisoners for some Cuban held US CIA operatives. Discusses how although COINTELPRO was found illegal, there was no remedy/redress for victims. Believes that Jericho needs to push COINTELPRO.
Herman Bell Out-takes Herman Bell Out-takes
Date: 9/16/1974Call Number: PM 078Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Claude MarksCollection: Herman Bell
Herman Bell talks about Gerald Ford’s appointment and the double standard for justice in the US. Discusses the dehumanization and demasculinization of prisoners and alienation from work. Compares the experiences of native people during colonization to redevelopment of communities in cities at present. Discusses the process of moving people toward consciousness and the US Health Department’s pattern of genocide throughout history.
Herman Bell Out-takes Herman Bell Out-takes
Date: 9/16/1974Call Number: CD 543Format: CDProducers: Claude MarksCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Herman Bell talks about Gerald Ford’s appointment and the double standard for justice in the US. Discusses the dehumanization and demasculinization of prisoners and alienation from work. Compares the experiences of native people during colonization to redevelopment of communities in cities at present. Discusses the process of moving people toward consciousness and the US Health Department’s pattern of genocide throughout history. 9/16/1974 Herman Bell talks about his conviction on three felony charges stemming from a Bank of America robbery in San Francisco. The New York Five case is discussed. Discusses means of struggle - sword/pen, reflects on history and future goals. 9/28/1974 Herman Bell talks about Marcus Foster’s assasination and CIA affiliation and the replication of South African aparteid in San Francisco. Discusses his arrest in New Orleans, the practices of intimidation and torture used by police in New Orleans, and the shooting of Twymon Myers in New York. 6/13/1974
Interview with Geronimo Ji-Jaga Pratt - 5 of 10 Interview with Geronimo Ji-Jaga Pratt - 5 of 10
Date: 1/1/1986Call Number: V 249Format: UmaticProducers: Lisa Rudman, Judy GerberCollection: Geronimo Pratt
Filmed in San Quentin Prison. Includes comments on J Edgar Hoover & the FBI targeting the Panthers, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X - Black Nationalist hate groups. Camera originals.
The Making of Black History: John Brown Anti-Klan Committee Event The Making of Black History: John Brown Anti-Klan Committee Event
Date: 2/1/1984Call Number: KP 468Format: CassetteCollection: John Brown Anti-Klan Committee (JBAKC)
Event held by John Brown Anti-Klan Committee for Black History Month, with speech by Chokwe Lumumba, speaking on the importance of history, the role of John Brown, and the critical juncture in the Black liberation movement. There is an opening dramatic presentation by Robbie McCauley. Speech by Michelle Chandler on the case of the New York 8 and talk on Washington DC Grand Jury and the NY 3 case.
Interview with Geronimo Ji-Jaga Pratt (#2) Interview with Geronimo Ji-Jaga Pratt (#2)
Date: 1/1/1986Call Number: C 10 109Format: Mini DVProducers: Lisa Rudman, Judy GerberCollection: Geronimo Pratt
Filmed in San Quentin Prison. Includes comments on his framing, government trying to neutralize the Panthers, Fred Hampton, COINTELPRO including Marcus Garvey & attacks against the Muslims, Psyops and the Panthers. Includes comments on J Edgar Hoover & the FBI targeting the Panthers, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X - Black Nationalist hate groups. Includes comments on political prisoners, prisoners of war, the Republic of New Africa, African People's Party. Talks about growing up in the South - the Deacons for Defense, Maroons & the Klan.
United States Government Conspiracy Against Malcolm X and the Black Community United States Government Conspiracy Against Malcolm X and the Black Community
Publisher: National Task Force for COINTELPRO Litigation & ResearchYear: 1978Format: FlyerCollection: Cointelpro
13th anniversary event of the assasination of Malcolm X. Information about his significance and the event to commemorate his death.
Dragon Dragon
Publisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveYear: 1975Volume Number: No. 1 AugustFormat: PeriodicalCollection: The Dragon
Table of Contents: BARC's Statement on Dragon, NWLF Chronology, NWLF Communique: GM Bombing, Fuck-the-World-for-Profits: GM Leaflet, NWLF Communique: PG&E Skyline Blvd, NWLF Communique: PG&E San Jose, Second PG&E San Jose Communique, Critique by Orphans of Amerika, NWLF Response, NWLF Communiqe: CDC Bombing, NWLF Communique: PG&E Berkeley, NWLF Letter to the Barb, Response by BARC & Orphans, Red Guerrilla Family Chronology, RGF Letter to the Alternative Media