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

ZANU-PF on the role of education ZANU-PF on the role of education
Call Number: AFR 014AFormat: Cass ACollection: Zimbabwe
Professor Caulterwell of ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front) speaks about the role of education in the struggle against white rule and imperialism. He discusses the teacher shortage and that textbooks lack an African view. All community and missionary schools will come under the direction of the ZANU government after independence.
Diane Lacey interviews Judy Jensen of Material Aid Campaign for ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) Diane Lacey interviews Judy Jensen of Material Aid Campaign for ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union)
Call Number: AFR 017BFormat: Cass BProducers: WWRL New YorkProgram: Black Dialogue ProgramCollection: Zimbabwe
Jensen speaks about changing American’s attitudes toward Southern Africa, and the Material Aid Campaign’s “Dollars for Bullets” Campaign. The Campaign supports the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe and also SWAPO’s (Southern African People’s Organization) call for United Nations sanctions against South Africa.
Robert Mugabe and others of ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) speak about events and reconstruction in Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe and others of ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) speak about events and reconstruction in Zimbabwe
Call Number: AFR 030Format: Cass A & BCollection: Zimbabwe
Poor recording, low volume, recorded off mic. Robert Mugabe, president of ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) and others speak about the events in Zimbabwe, such as the Lancaster agreement and the presence of South African troops in Zimbabwe. Mugabe speaks about ZANU’s plans for the reconstruction of Zimbabwe: the means of production will be returned to the black people, and ZANU and SWAPO (South West African People’s Organization) will likely merge after independence is attained. He explains the Patriotic Front as an alliance between ZANU and SWAPO for the purpose of negotiating with the enemy. He also calls on South African troops to maintain support and stability in Zimbabwe after liberation.
Conference on Zimbabwe after independence. Conference on Zimbabwe after independence.
Date: 2/27/1982Call Number: AFR 032Format: Cass A & BCollection: May 19th Communist Organization
Conference on Zimbabwe after independence, featuring speakers Judy Jensen of Material Aid Campaign for ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union), Comrade Johnny of Zimbabwean Missions, Marcy Shulman of May 19th Communist Organization, Sister Assata Shakur and Serge Mukendi of FLNC (Congolese National Liberation Front), and Ahmed Obafemi, the East Coast Region Vice President of the RNA (Republic of New Africa). Jensen speaks first on the Material Aid Campaign’s goals of building solidarity with Namibia’s struggle against South African and American imperialism through the “Dollars for Bullets” campaign in solidarity with PLAN (People’s Liberation Army of Namibia). She points to Zimbabwe’s victory as bringing support to Namibia’s struggle through resources and moral support. Later she speaks on efforts to aid in Zimbabwe’s reconstruction. Comrade Johnny speaks about how the armed struggle was essential for victory, and how revolution never dies. After liberation, Zimbabwe must still continue the long process of freeing people from the white imperialist structures. He tells of the history of the Zimbabwe struggle, and how a development plan must be set up in reconstruction. Marcy Shulman speaks about women’s role in fighting for liberation. Assata Shakur and Serge Mukendi the oppressive situation the people of the Congo find themselves after the assassination of Patrice Lumumba. Mukendi calls for an armed peoples war for national liberation and socialism, and calls for solidarity with SWAPO (South West African People’s Organization). Ahmed Obafemi begins his speech, continued on AFR 033. Tape 1, 2/27 DFB
Ahmed Obafemi of the RNA (Republic of New Africa) speaks on struggle in Namibia and the South West African People’s Organization. Continuation of AFR 032. Ahmed Obafemi of the RNA (Republic of New Africa) speaks on struggle in Namibia and the South West African People’s Organization. Continuation of AFR 032.
Date: 2/27/1982Call Number: AFR 033AFormat: Cass ACollection: May 19th Communist Organization
Continuation of AFR 032. Ahmed Obafemi, East Coast Region Vice President of RNA (Republic of New Africa) speaks about three different fronts in Namibia: one being the people’s front against United States and South African imperialism, the second one being the international fronts of solidarity with liberation movements in Africa, and the third being the primary front, armed struggle. He comments on SWAPO (South West African People’s Organization) giving aid to Namibia through all means, material and morale. Lastly he talks about the history of SWAPO and how it has grown. Tape 3, 2/27/82 DTB Forum SWAPO
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.
Imperialist oppression in Southern African countries Imperialist oppression in Southern African countries
Date: 1/15/1982Call Number: AFR 066Format: Cass A & BCollection: African liberation movements
Judy Jensen of the Material Aid Campaign for ZANU makes a speech about Southern Africa. She speaks about ZANU’s defeat of white settler colonialism in Zimbabwe and also women’s contributions to the struggle. She discusses the different fronts in the war for the liberation of Southern Africa, and the struggle against the US’s attack on their independence. She talks about struggles in Namibia, South Africa’s control over Southern African countries, and calls for solidarity with Southern African countries. Lastly, she draws comparisons and similarities between the oppression of blacks in America and Africa. Next, Serge Mukendi, US Representative of the Workers and Peasants Movement of the Congo (MOP), speaks about weaknesses in natural and human resources in Africa because they are not in the hands of the Africans. He speaks about the struggles in Congo and tells the audience that it is our duty to strengthen the fight for liberation in Congo through support and solidarity. On Side B, Eve Rosahn, political activist, Students Against Government Misconduct, speaks about political activists for black liberation who have been tortured and beaten for their actions. Next, a member of the Anti-Springbok 5 chants “Up With Azania, Down With South Africa!”, and speaks about her experiences as an ASB-5, and tells the audience about the Springbok 5 and what they represent. The Springboks are an elite white supremacist South African rugby team traveling the US, representing the spread of white imperialism. Lastly, PAC (Pan African Congress) representative Jackie Mazibuko, speaks about white alliances between Ian Smith of Zimbabwe, the South African government, and the US in their oppression of black Africans. She also speaks about the land issues in Africa, and that all land originally, and still should, belong to black Africans, and that people must have the ideology of revolution to struggle against oppression.