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

Herman Bell interview (2 of 3) Herman Bell interview (2 of 3)
Call Number: V 075Format: VHSProducers: John O’ReillyCollection: New York 3
Interview tape 2 of 3 of Herman Bell. Continues talking about Nuh and ho w he received his name and went from Albert to Nuh Washington. Asked about changing his name - both Jalil and Nuh changed their names and became Muslim, Herman did neither. Talks about the importance of freeing political prisoners - they are/were the leaders of the streets. Frustrated at how many young people (particularly men) in poor communities of color are turning against each other, assaulted by an intentional infestation of drugs, and have no guidance/traditions which could be passed on if the political prisoners were freed. Asked about his mentors - growing up he talks a lot about Malcolm X, mentions Patrice Lumumba and the case of the Congo. As early as 14, Bell was politicized by Malcolm. Discusses his resentment towards Ebony magazine for being so conservative and portraying a black petty bourgeoisie lifestyle. Discusses his home life and that his parents bought into the apple pie American dream myth, didn’t approve of Herman or his sister in the Black Panther Party. Discusses militarization of police throughout history, profiling, brutality, and surveillance. Reagan starting SWAT teams in California. Says that things are much worse for young black males today, demonized by the mainstream, the disparity of drug laws and heightened policing. Briefly discusses first trip to Watts after the rebellion - looked like a “war zone”. Watts and Huey talking about arming himself - two politicizing moments in his life.
Herman Bell interview (all 3 tapes) Herman Bell interview (all 3 tapes)
Call Number: V 077Format: VHSProducers: John O’ReillyCollection: New York 3
Compilation of Videos 74-76 (see those descriptions)
Karen Wald on Cuba 1 Karen Wald on Cuba 1
Date: 8/5/1986Call Number: FI 255Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Lincoln Bergman, Emiliano EcheverriaProgram: Freedom Is A Constant StruggleCollection: Freedom is a Constant Struggle
Interview with Karen Wald, who has lived and worked in Cuba. She discusses how she thinks Cuba has changed, problems, possible plans for invasion of Cuba. In-depth discussion of health care system and her response to charges that Cuba tortures political prisoners, the Armando Valladares case, juvenile delinquency, and prison conditions in general.
Karen Wald on Cuba 2 Karen Wald on Cuba 2
Date: 8/5/1986Call Number: FI 256Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Lincoln Bergman, Emiliano EcheverriaProgram: Freedom Is A Constant StruggleCollection: Freedom is a Constant Struggle
Interview, before final editing, with Karen Wald, who has lived and worked in Cuba. She discusses how she thinks Cuba has changed, problems, possible plans for invasion of Cuba. In-depth discussion of health care system and her response to charges that Cuba tortures political prisoners, the Armando Valladares case, juvenile delinquency, and prison conditions in general.
The Black Panther Black Community News Service The Black Panther Black Community News Service
Publisher: The Black Panther PartyYear: 1971Volume Number: Vol. 7-5 October 4Format: PeriodicalCollection: Black Panther Party Community News Service
Cover Story: The Black Panther Party Proclaims Revolutionary Intercommunal Solidarity with the Congolese People, The Revolutionary Government of Congo-Brazzaville and the Congolese Worker's Party