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.

Africa- General Resources

This collection contains general resources about the continent of Africa. The collection draws from many types of materials (periodicals, books, pamphlets) and many different countries (Kenya, Guinea, Tanzania). Themes of the collection range from the role of women in African liberation struggles, a series of periodicals detailing various liberation struggles called Revolution in Africa, a book filled with continental maps throughout history and a journal focusing on issues of Pan-Africanism.  

Documents

Adelaide Sanford on African values Adelaide Sanford on African values
Date: 3/3/1990Call Number: AFR 050AFormat: Cass AProgram: To Be African in Today’s America - Toward Liberation!Collection: Africa- General Resources
Continuation of AFR 049 Adelaide Sanford speaks about improving education in America. She talks about changing education in America and fighting for educational freedoms. She calls the people to be aware of the power of the African story and to get it out to all people through the media. She speaks about the destruction of black civilization in America. Because of the association of the black man and drugs, particularly crack, a derivative of cocaine, as an agent of melanin in black skin pigment, people need to be educated about cocaine’s dangers.
Discussion on the effects of global white supremacy on Africans Discussion on the effects of global white supremacy on Africans
Date: 10/23/1991Call Number: AFR 053Format: Cass A & BProducers: UAM: United African MovementProgram: Global White Supremacy, Part 1Collection: Africa- General Resources
Recorded off mic. Discussion on the effects of global white supremacy on Africans historically, legally, and psychologically. The audio begins with Imhotep Gary Byrd leading the audience in a song. John Henrik Clarke speaks how black people are the chosen people of God, and how historically, the Jews have benefited from the slave trade. He also talks about Louis Farrakhan, minister of the nation of Islam, and his contributions to the black man. He also gives a historical perspective on global white supremacy, saying that blacks do not understand white supremacy because they don’t understand white people. He asserts that whites feel superior because they aren’t rich in culture and family life like blacks are, and they want that without paying for it. Clarke calls people to read more and to become educated. He speaks about Egypt not being white because it is deep within Africa, so they cannot claim superiority over other Africans. He also speaks about the bastardization of Africans, physically through skin color, and mentally through the desire to be white. He claims there is no reason for white colonization except the whites desire for resources and to take over another people. He says that the only way to overcome global white supremacy would be for all Africans to unite. Audio tape includes a rap song about race relations between minorities (blacks) and whites. No Justice, No Peace.
Afrocentricity Afrocentricity
Call Number: AFR 055AFormat: Cass ACollection: Africa- General Resources
A panel of speakers discuss Afrocentricity. One speaker talks about the horrible colonization and supposed Christianization of Africa by the Romans. Another speaker, Professor Barnouw, answers questions about Africa and barbarism, as well as the Egyptian influence in Africa, such as the belief in black and white gods. Following his talk, there is live African drumming and music. Following the music, Elombe Brath speaks about the African music and other different styles of African music.
John Henrik Clarke on the change and challenge of history for the African person John Henrik Clarke on the change and challenge of history for the African person
Date: 2/10/1992Call Number: AFR 074Format: Cass A & BProducers: Wahat productions, New York Urban LeagueProgram: Black History Month Lecture: The Change & Challenge of History in the 20th CenturyCollection: Africa- General Resources
Lecture by Dr. John Henrik Clarke about the change and challenge of history for the African person. He speaks about how it is more difficult to understand the changes and challenges of history if we do not read the basic history of our people. History tells a people where and what they are and have been, what they still must be. He comments on how most people simply look at the history of the world as a whole, but overlook the histories of each people. He talks about the differences between men and women, blacks, and whites. Lastly, he speaks about placing black relationships on a new level based on tradition and a common history. Quote: “You don’t beg for something that belongs to you, you take back what belongs to you.”
The history of the slave trade The history of the slave trade
Call Number: AFR 056Format: Cass A & BProducers: WBAI RadioProgram: WBAI Special Premium: “Spirits of the Passage”Collection: Africa- General Resources
Historian John Henrik Clarke reads Madeline Burnside’s book “Spirits of the Passage”. The recording begins with a background history of slavery in the world, and of the slave trade. Clarke, author of the book “Critical Lessons of Slavery and the Slave Trade”, speaks on the slave trade in its historical context. Professor of African American history at Howard University, Olive Taylor, explains how the slave trade has had an impact on dancing, and she also discusses international law and the slave trade. Ali Mazrui, creator of the PBS TV series “The Africans”, discusses modern day slavery in Sudan. Side B is a continuation of Side A, with Mazrui speaking about South Africa, Brazil, and the Arab world’s involvement in the slave trade and racial categories.
Historian John Henrik Clarke on Islam and other religions in Africa Historian John Henrik Clarke on Islam and other religions in Africa
Call Number: AFR 057Format: Cass A & BProducers: WBAIProgram: WBAI Special Premium: Spirits of the Passage with John Henrik ClarkeCollection: Africa- General Resources
Historian John Henrik Clarke speaks on spirituality and the history of Islam in Africa. He speaks about how organized religion has spread at the hand of conquerors, and Muslim Africans have been blinded to the wrongs done to their fellow Africans in the name of Islam. He talks about how East and West Africa have been Islamized by Arabs and Islamized Africans, and that nothing good for Africa comes out of outside influences. Quote: “Everything that touches your life must be converted into an instrument for your liberation, or thrown into the ash can of history.” Clarke proceeds to give a history of the Muslims, Islam, and Christianity in Africa. Taking a negative view on the Islamic religion, he also asserts that Europeans took control of Christianity and other religions. Quote: “Europeans don’t know fractions even to this day. One fourth, one half - they want it all.” Side B is extremely muffled and unintelligible.
Panel Discussion with Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People on the Global Media Conspiracy Panel Discussion with Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People on the Global Media Conspiracy
Date: 4/23/1994Call Number: AFR 058Format: Cass A & BProducers: CEMOTAP (Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People)Program: The Global Media Conspiracy and Community Rally for Earl CaldwellCollection: Africa- General Resources
Audio begins abruptly on Side A Historian John Henrik Clarke speaks about how Europe’s perception of the world influences the interpretation of the world. Its nationalism has guided its history and its colonizing of mass media. Clarke states that European media has created the image of God that does not look like a black person, but in Africa, God is seen neither as black or white, but as a loving father. Clarke also speaks about racism: racists are of all skin colors, and to overcome racism is to be with others of different ethnicities. Quote: “You get out only what you put in.” He says that while Europe will always control the world, and in spite of the mass media and multiculturalism, people can coexist and you do not have to plan this coexistence. He calls people to look at themselves universally. After Dr. Clarke speaks, the MC introduces Dr. James MacIntosh, cofounder of CEMOTAP (Committee to Elimiate Media Offensive to African People). . Side B is a continuation of side A. Dr. James MacIntosh speaks about the Rockaway 5 (five men who have been influential in the fight against racial discrimination against Africans in the media), and the corrupt and violent police and justice system. He speaks about confronting ABC media with tapes and statements offensive to blacks in their media, hoping to elicit a response positive to collaboration with CEMOTAP. He calls for CEMOTAP being national and more church involvement in their cause.
Panel Discussion with CEMOTAP on the Global Media Conspiracy Panel Discussion with CEMOTAP on the Global Media Conspiracy
Date: 4/23/1994Call Number: AFR 059Format: Cass A & BProducers: CEMOTAP (Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People)Program: The Global Media Conspiracy and Community Rally for Earl CaldwellCollection: Africa- General Resources
Continuation of AFR 058. Dr. Leonard Jeffries, professor and scholar, speaks on the changing views of “majority” on race in the media - how people like Nathan Glazer have taken on majority views, but others like Arthur Slessinger have not. Blacks, however, have organized and fought for their freedoms. Jeffries talks about how being educated and skilled still cannot get you credit or recognition in the media because you’re not white and you’re attacking slavery. He praises Earl Caldwell for his contributions. Side B is a continuation of Side A. Earl Caldwell, journalist, speaks about discrimination he has faced when working at the Daily News and New York Times newspapers, the limits of free speech, and the expressing of his own opinion in the workplace and his writing. He speaks about how the newspaper took a year to hire him, and his articles in the back and shortened them. He wanted a relationship with the black community as a black reporter/journalist.
Panel Discussion with CEMOTAP on the Global Media Conspiracy Panel Discussion with CEMOTAP on the Global Media Conspiracy
Date: 4/23/1994Call Number: AFR 060Format: Cass A & BProducers: CEMOTAP (Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People)Program: The Global Media Conspiracy and Community Rally for Earl CaldwellCollection: Africa- General Resources
Continuation of AFR 059. Earl Caldwell, journalist, speaks about his experiences with racial discrimination as a journalist. He talks about how in the beginning of the computer age, blacks knew much more about computers than whites did, but whites got all the jobs because they were trained to learn computers, and whites were paid more than blacks as well. Side B is a continuation of Side A. A CEMOTAP speaker speaks about the PAC (Pan - African Congress) in Uganda. He states that it was wrong for Europeans to colonize Africa, but that it was directly linked to the black people’s lack of leaders and organization. He speaks about the rise of Facism and Gulianism (future mayor of New York), and of the conservative black person. Eric Ture Muhammed, Executive Director of the Black African Holocaust Council, makes a plug for his journal, the Holocaust Journal, and speaks on media censorship.
Afrikan Awakener Afrikan Awakener
Publisher: Pan Afrikan Peoples OrganizationYear: 1977Volume Number: Vol. 2-16 MayFormat: PeriodicalCollection: Africa- General Resources
The organ of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Organization. Contents of this issue include: Zimbabwe Patriotic Front Recognized, Roots: Red, White and Blue or Black?, Will Zaire be the next Vietnam?, How the Camp Pendleton 14 resist Klan violence, psychology of the Black Revolution, Home Births- Not a Bad Thing, What's Happening to Our Bad Youth