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

Nothing is More Precious Than... Nothing is More Precious Than...
Date: 10/20/1973Call Number: NI 003Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Claude Marks, Nancy BarrettProgram: Nothing is More Precious ThanCollection: “Nothing is More Precious Than…” a news magazine including music and poetry
Stories on political prisoners, Chile, Native American, Weather Underground, Joanne Chesimard, Mark Lane, Pedro Bissonette
Real Dragon Real Dragon
Date: 2/10/1973Call Number: RD 030Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Claude Marks, Lincoln BergmanProgram: Real DragonCollection: “The Real Dragon” a news magazine including music and poetry
Roundup of news, much international, Native American, prisons, repression
Pajaro Latino Pajaro Latino
Date: 6/21/2001Call Number: JH 645AFormat: Cass AProducers: Jorge HerreraCollection: “Pajaro Latino” Programs produced by Jorge Herrera
"Golpe Bajo" de Jaier Arteaga; Danzones Tropicales Liliana Felipe en el libro de laura Esquivel "La ley del Amor"; 26 de junio mission cultural Center: tony Gonzalez 1975 South Dakota nacion Oglala, Leonard Peltier
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.
Poetry and Music by Ruben Ruyal & Phil Serrano; Audio from the documentary "Nueva Havana’" neighborhood in Chile Poetry and Music by Ruben Ruyal & Phil Serrano; Audio from the documentary "Nueva Havana’" neighborhood in Chile
Call Number: CD 411Format: CDProducers: Communicacion AztlanProgram: Communicacion AztlanCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
This tape begins with a poem by Ruben Ruyal called ‘Cat in the Mission Nights’ about the conditions in San Francisco’s Mission district and how they connect to the larger US society. Ruben then reads one of his poems about about the conditions and struggles prisoners go through. Both poems are read while Phil Serrano plays guitar in the background. Phil then sings a song he wrote called ‘Graciano’ which is about a young man in college who was killed by police while he was protesting at Wounded Knee. The CD ends with audio from a Chilean film shown that night called ‘Nueva Havana’ about a neighborhood in Chile created by peasants and workers. It includes individual stories and some Chilean political history. Same as CAA 067
Excerpts from Du Zaire Au Congo & Incident at Oglala: The Leonard Peltier Story Excerpts from Du Zaire Au Congo & Incident at Oglala: The Leonard Peltier Story
Audio excerpts from two videos: V215 and CD V215 Part 2 of 2. Du Zaire Au Congo This documentary by Christian Mesnil chronicles Congo's struggle for independence from the racist colonial rule of King Leopold's Belgium. Using archival pictures and footage, as well as poetry and music, this documentary covers the colonial occupation of the Congo from 1885 to the declaration of independence in 1960 as well as the subsequent postcolonial struggle. Much emphasis is placed on the political life of Patrice Lumumba (1925-1961) and included are statements and speeches spanning from his organizing work with the Mouvement National Congolais to his inagueration as Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This film is in French with no subtitles. B&W. CD 205 Michael Apted's documentary is an investigative report on the case of Leonard Peltier, an American Indian Movement activist who was convicted of killing two F.B.I. agents in a 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge reservation, in South Dakota. Peltier (who has been serving time for the murders since 1977) was railroaded by the F.B.I. The filmmakers concentrate on demonstrating that Leonard didn't get a fair trial. Apted guides us through this tangle of ambiguous evidence and back-and-forth legal maneuvering with patient, unobtrusive skill, and the cool rationality of his manner makes the movie's arguments seem all the more irrefutable. Narrated by Robert Redford (who is also the executive producer).
Poetry and Music by Ruben Ruyal & Phil Serrano; Audio from the documentary "Nueva Havana’" neighborhood in Chile Poetry and Music by Ruben Ruyal & Phil Serrano; Audio from the documentary "Nueva Havana’" neighborhood in Chile
Call Number: CAA 067Format: CDProgram: Communicacion AztlanCollection: Arts, literature and poetry – a program series produced by Comunicacion Aztlan
Ruben Ruyal reads poetry on the conditions in San Francisco’s Mission district and the struggles of prisoners. Phil performs his song, ‘Graciano’ about a young man who was killed by police at Wounded Knee. Ends with audio from the Chilean film, ‘Nueva Havana,’ about a neighborhood created by peasants and workers. Includes individual stories and some Chilean political history. Same as CAA 067