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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.
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Basic Searching
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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.

George Jackson

George Jackson was arrested in 1957 for stealing $70 from a gas station and was sentenced to 1 year to life. Jackson ended up being incarcerated for 14 years until he was murdered by prison guards inside San Quentin Prison in 1971. During his 14 years of imprisonment, Jackson became of the seminal figures and thinkers of Black Power and the Black Liberation Movement.

Documents

George Jackson on prisons, the Weather Underground, Black Panther Party George Jackson on prisons, the Weather Underground, Black Panther Party
Date: 7/28/1971Call Number: PM 056Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Max BloomCollection: George Jackson
George Jackson discusses the connections between the prison movement inside and other movements and the importance of democratic centralism to the success of both movements. He discusses the idea of the Black Panther Party as the vanguard party, capable of providing resources for the community. He discusses Mao and Guevara and the idea of revolution in two states. He responds to criticism of the BPP’s statements on the role of women. Also the problems with the defense committees and himself as a possible martyr.