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

Black Liberation Army communication on Jacksonville events Black Liberation Army communication on Jacksonville events
Date: 7/5/1974Call Number: PM 179Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Claude MarksCollection: BLA
Safiyah Bukhari reads Black Liberation Army (BLA) communication from underground location about the BLA’s position on the killings in Jacksonville, the organization’s missions, and goals for the people of the United States.
Malcolm X Speech Malcolm X Speech
Call Number: KP 053Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Malcolm X
This speech delivered by Malcolm X calls on African-Americans to create a sense of black nationalism among themselves. He claims that there will be no help from Democrats, Republicans or Americans, and that African- Americans should proceed with their revolution, “Freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody.” The ballot or the bullet, liberty or death. (This record was edited a bit, with two snippets of other speeches interjected, in the same vein as Malcolm X’s speech.)
Speech by Malcolm X at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, 1964 Speech by Malcolm X at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, 1964
Date: 12/20/1964Call Number: KP 056Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Charles HobsonCollection: Malcolm X
Speech given at DNC about how some African countries won their independence through anger and violence. Black people must speak the language of the captors and recognize that what happens in Mississippi has nationwide impact. There is no difference between Northern and Southern Democrats because they work as a whole not as separate parts. Freedom is not something that is given to you, you must take it and Black people must be equipped to do that in the same way that others have done it in the past. Audio tape is cut off at the end.
Doc Holiday Doc Holiday
Call Number: PM 189Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Doc Holiday. Tape is long summary of information related to plane crash.
Discussion among black women about white liberals, radicalism and solidarity. Discussion among black women about white liberals, radicalism and solidarity.
Call Number: KP 069Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Black Power/Black Nation
Black Women discussing many issues that face them including white liberals and fear, and the media and its outlets.
James Baldwin on Angela Davis James Baldwin on Angela Davis
Call Number: KP 071Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProgram: Pacific of Program ServicesCollection: Angela Davis
Interview with James Baldwin on the issues surrounding Angela Davis' case. Baldwin explains Europeans' views on this case and the connection between the Civil Rights Movement to the larger international human struggle against colonialism. He shares his own opinions on America and its relationship to the world. The interview ends with Baldwin reading "An Open Letter to My Sister, Angela Y. Davis."
Malcolm X, “The Ballot or the Bullet” Malcolm X, “The Ballot or the Bullet”
Date: 4/3/1964Call Number: KP 088Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Malcolm X
In this talk, one of his best known speeches, Malcolm X demonstrates the vision which contributed greatly to the new militancy within black organizations. Please see http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/malcolmxballot.htm for full transcription of the speech.
Malcolm X: a retrospective Malcolm X: a retrospective
Call Number: KP 089Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Chris KochCollection: Malcolm X
A documentary on the life of Malcolm X, from his first impact on black power and the Black Muslim Movement in 1960 to his death in 1965. Produced by Chris Koch.
Malcolm X:  the prospects for freedom Malcolm X: the prospects for freedom
Date: 1/7/1965Call Number: KP 090Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Malcolm X
A talk given by Malcolm X on January 7, 1965 in New York. One of the last speeches he made before being shot a month later.
Malcolm X: the prospects for freedom PART 2 Malcolm X: the prospects for freedom PART 2
Date: 1/7/1965Call Number: KP 091Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Malcolm X
The question and answer period following one of his last speeches delivered on January 7, 1965 in New York City.