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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, specifcally AND/+, NOT/-, and OR operators. 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.
Welcome to the Freedom Archives' Digital Search Engine.The Freedom Archives contains over 12,000 hours of audio and video recordings which date from the late-1960s to the mid-90s and chronicle the progressive history of the Bay Area, the United States, and international movements. We are also in the process of scanning and uploading thousands of historical documents which enrich our media holdings. Our collection includes weekly news, poetry, music programs; in-depth interviews and reports on social and cultural issues; numerous voices from behind prison walls; diverse activists; and pamphlets, journals and other materials from many radical organizations and movements.

Black Liberation Movement Publications

This collection is comprised of position papers, monographs, newspapers and other publications from or about the Black Liberation Movement. Includes The Student Voice, The Movement Newspaper, Crossroads, Soulbook and a sub-collection filled with assorted writings. 

Subcollections

  • Crossroad
    Crossroad
    Crossroad is a non-sectarian newsletter produced by and for New Afrikan Prisoners of War and Political Prisoners intended to increase awareness and support for the release of captured combatants and the self-determination struggle of New Afrikans.
  • The Movement Newspaper
    The Movement Newspaper
    Produced by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee of California, this periodical was published from 1965 to 1970. This newspaper deals with national and international issues of anti-racism, anti-imperialism and liberation.
  • Soulbook
    Soulbook
    Soulbook is a periodical that features essays, poems, reflections, cartoons, and other artistic works intended to further the cause of the Black Liberation Movement. Topics include jazz, poetry, economics and anti-imperialism.
  • The Student Voice
    The Student Voice
    The Student Voice was a civil rights era periodical published by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
  • Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
    Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
    Pamphlets, ephemera, periodicals, writings and poetry pertaining to the Black Liberation Movement. Contains materials produced by Black Liberation Army, The Republic of New Afrika, revolutionary Pan-African organizations and Black Marxists.

Documents

Awakening of a Dragon Awakening of a Dragon
Publisher: Black Community News LetterDate: 7/1975Volume Number: Vol. 13 JulyFormat: PeriodicalCollection: Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
Celebrate the Victory of Vietnam Over U.S. Imperialism; Honor Our Fallen One (Melvin Rema Kearney); Communique from the Black Liberation Army; United Nations May 30th Statement in Support of Prisoners of War and Political Prisoners; World's Largest Dope Pushers!; Doctors Are Middlemen; One Pill Can Kill; Methadone Sells Big on Street; more.
The Black Voice Vol. 5-2 The Black Voice Vol. 5-2
Publisher: United Black Workers Ford Mahwah PlantationVolume Number: Vol. 5-2Format: PeriodicalCollection: Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
A Call To An International Worker's Day Rally. Articles on the purpose of the Black Voice, A Visit with the Black Panther Party, the Struggle for Labor Unity, and local plant news and perspectives.
Humanity Freedom Peace Humanity Freedom Peace
Publisher: Revolutionary Peoples Communication NetworkFormat: MonographCollection: Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
LA (Los Angeles) Shoot Out Before And After; The Death of a Freedom Fighter; Interview With LA POWs; Niggertown (poem by Bunchy Carter); The New Urban Guerrilla.
Liberation Will Come from a Black Thing Liberation Will Come from a Black Thing
Author: James FormanYear: 1968Format: MonographCollection: Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
Taken from a speech given at the Western Regional Black Youth Conference, held in Los Angeles, California on Nov. 23, 1967. Introduction: Spurred by the intense rebellions of 1967, black people were groping with ways to heighten their struggle during the fall months of that year. As is the case today, there was much confusion then concerning the nature of the movement for black liberation. Many leading spokesmen continued to argue that the only problem which black people faced was a racial one. Others were denying the historical basis of the black liberation struggle, stating that until the advent of Black Power, black people had docilely accepted their oppression in the United States. By November, 1967, Brother Forman decided that his correct ideological positions and beliefs had to be given a broad base in the black community, as opposed to merely being confined within the internal ranks of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
The Black Voice Vol. 6-2 The Black Voice Vol. 6-2
Publisher: United Black WorkersYear: 1976Volume Number: Vol. 6-2Format: PeriodicalCollection: Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
200 Years of Exploitation. Unity + Strength Equals Power. Articles include Program for the Coalition for a Good Contract; UAW Leaders Prepare Sell Out; UAW Bureaucrats don't understand what it means to work; What does July 4th Mean to a Slave?; ZANU Leads Armed Struggle for Socialist Revolution in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe); John Carlos Reflects on '68 Olympics Black Power Salute; Blacks Boycotted Bicentennial. Z.A.N.U. Leads Armed Struggle For Socialist Revolution in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). Includes a powerful collage centered on Black Self-Determination. Repression Breeds Resistance.
Negro Digest: The Black University Negro Digest: The Black University
Publisher: Johnson Publishing Inc.Date: 3/1968Volume Number: Vol. XVII No. 5Format: PeriodicalCollection: Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
Negro Digest: Towards a Black University Part II Negro Digest: Towards a Black University Part II
Publisher: Johnson Publishing Inc.Date: 3/1969Volume Number: Vol. XVIII No. 5Format: PeriodicalCollection: Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
Negro Digest: The Black University Part III Negro Digest: The Black University Part III
Publisher: Johnson Publishing Inc.Year: Mar-70Volume Number: Vol. XIX No. 5Format: PeriodicalCollection: Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
This issue of Negro Digest begins with several articles in response to a previously published article by Professor Vincent Harding about the marginalization of, and possibilities for, Black academics and students in predominantly white universities. An opening statement provides context for the debate, followed by two contributor essays responding to Professor Vincent. The remaining articles feature profiles and case studies of Black-led higher education programs throughout the United States, including Institute of the Black World, The Communiversity, Malcolm X Liberation University, and the Center for Black Education. Several essays on the state of Black Studies in academia are also features. The magazine also includes fiction and comics, as well as sections highlighting recent noteworthy publications and artistic performances.
Black Arts Black Culture Black Arts Black Culture
Publisher: Journal of Black Poetry PressYear: 1972Format: PeriodicalCollection: Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
CONTENTS : THE CRISIS IN BLACK CULTURE Askia Muhammad Abu Bakr El Toure; ON THE "BOYCOTT" Ed Spriggs; INTERVIEW WITH MILFORD GRAVES Marvin X; ON SPIRITUALISM & THE REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT Ahmed Akinwole Ato Alhamisi. Two ''Case" Studies: ON THE "ESSENCE" MAGAZINE AFFAIR by Askia Muhammad Abu Bakr El Toure and NEWS FROM CLEVELAND by Norman Jordan.
Black Dialogue Magazine Black Dialogue Magazine
Publisher: Black Dialogue PublicationsYear: 1969Volume Number: Vol. IV No. 1 SpringFormat: PeriodicalCollection: Various Black Liberation Movement Publications
Contents: DIALOGUE WITH AUM (interview and photos) by Edward Spriggs DREAMS by John Farris CONTENTS AND WHAT ABOUT LAURIE? (a review of "Uptight") by Nikki Giovanni ALL IN THE STREET by Ameer Baraka AFRO by Ruth Rambo McClain DANCE LIKE AN ADJECTIVE TO YOU by Will Halsey FOX SECTION by J . Harris, R . Hinton and D.Harris PASSED ON BLUES by Ted Joans HOW LONG HAS TRANE BEEN GONE? by Jane Cortez WHEN BROWN IS BLACK (for Rap Brown) by Keorapetse Kgositsile AND THEY WILL BE ASTOUNDED (a short story) by Melba Kgositsile JUDGEMENT (a one-act play) by Will Halsey