A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about Superior Court Judge John C. Demos denying a motion to move the murder trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper out of Middlesex County because of the defense's inability to show that an unbiased jury couldn't be selected.
Newt Dallas moved to Jackson in 1926 at the age of 18 to work for the city and talks about some of the other jobs he had over the years. He talks about his family and the different places in Jackson he has lived as well as some Black owned businesses he remembered. He remembers the "Good Old Days" as those days he did nothing but work every day.
A photograph from the newspaper The Home News of poet and playwright Amiri Baraka speaking at a benefit for Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) at the Rutgers University Student Center in New Jersey. Shakur was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Baraka was one of several speakers speaking on Shakur’s behalf at the benefit.
A news blurb from The New York Times about Lennox Hinds, president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers, speaking out against his critics for his support of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), in her trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, after being cited by The Ethics Committee of the Middlesex County Bar Association.
Netterine Theodore was one of the founders of the Turkey Creek Head Start Center near Gulfport, Mississippi, in 1964. She worked for Head Start as a teacher and committed the entirety of her life to school and education. Ms. Theodore discusses the origins of Head Start in the Turkey Creek community and the effect that had on race relations.
A button with a sketch of a photo of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist in South Africa. After being imprisoned for 27 years due to his African Nationalist ideology, he was released in 1990 and led efforts to end apartheid. He was elected president in 1994 in the country's first fully democratic election.
Nancy Stewart worked in the central office of the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM) in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1967 until 1970. She talks about growing up during segregation in Gulfport, Mississippi, and the views that many people had about Head Start serving Black children. Interview is incomplete. Recording cuts short at the end.
Nancy Cahill moved from Washington D.C., with her parents in 1948 when she was six years old and had lived in Clinton most of her life. In the interview she talks about her family's history in Clinton, MS, dating back to the 19th century; the town's rapid growth; her education; how Clinton compares and contrasts with Jackson; and racism in Clinton.
Willie Payton began with Head Start holding meetings at churches to encourage people in the community to get involved. She ultimately helped with the opening of the first Head Start Center in the Pearson Community in Rankin County, Mississippi. She discusses her experiences with voter registration work in Mississippi in the 1960s.
A newspaper article from The New York Times detailing the testimony Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) gave during her trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. In her testimony, she denied shooting anyone, or possessing a firearm, and gave her account of what happened that day.
A newspaper article from The Home News about Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) dropping her plan to testify in her attempt to get moved to a larger cell while in Middlesex County to stand trial for the May 1973 killing of a state trooper. Shakur was convicted in 1977 of the killing and escaped prison in 1979.
A newspaper article by Emma Simms of New Haven, Connecticut, in The Black Panther about the free breakfast program in New Haven. She writes on behalf of “the welfare moms of New Haven,” saying that welfare money doesn’t provide enough money for adequate food for children and the Black Panthers are filling that void in the community.
On the front of the Mother’s Day card there is a picture of a group of women. On the back of the card, Black Liberation Army (BLA) member Ashanti Alston expresses his Mother's Day wishes to Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika), and he says that one day may come where there is no struggle because she deserves so much more from life.
Minutes from a meeting of the New Afrikan Women’s Organization. Organizational plans to move forward with the new organization are discussed, especially in light of the vacuum left since 1971 in radical movements. Finances, future conferences, and methods of operation were also discussed in the meeting.
Minnie Wallace was born in Winston County, Mississippi, in 1910 and moved with her preacher father to Yazoo City, Mississippi, in 1929. She talks about her childhood, saying it was difficult because the family worked as sharecroppers. She also discusses her education through graduating from Jackson State College in 1943. Transcript is handwritten.
Minnie Ripley helped bring Head Start to Mayersville, Mississippi. She talks about her experiences in the Civil Rights Movement, including her story of registering to vote and being put in jail. She also recounts her position as chairwoman of the board of the Mayersville Head Start program, one of the earliest in Mississippi.
Minnie Farish was born on Farish Street and lived her life there. Ms. Farish talks about her childhood on Farish Street and her time at Smith Robertson School and Lanier High School. She recounts the homes and businesses on Farish Street and talks extensively about her family. She also talks about what it was like living in the Jim Crow Era.
Excerpts from Carlos Marighella's Minimanual of the Guerilla. It lays out tactics for struggle against an oppressive state. Marighella, a Brazilian Marxist–Leninist revolutionary, published the book in 1969 and it became popular in revolutionary circles, including within Black Nationalistic circles in the United States.
A message declaring the revolutionary intentions of the Black Liberation Army (BLA). The author sets up a dystopian military state scene and writes that revolutionaries must be prepared to do anything, including infiltration, violence, and more. The author also writes that those who die for the cause of revolution must be celebrated, not mourned.
A message from the Black Liberation Army (BLA) to brothers and sisters, comrades and friends attending a rally. The message briefly outlines the history and tenets of the organization, including taking up arms against the oppressive government as well as combatting ills in the community such as slumlords, drug pushers, and pimps.
Brief greetings given on behalf of the Black Liberation Army (BLA) to people attending a rally in support of revolution. With handwritten notes by Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika) about some of the tactical setbacks the BLA has experienced, the most costly of which being the loss of people who gave their lives to the struggle.
Case Data and Exhibits for Brown III, a relitigation of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954) that corrected resegregation issues caused by open enrollment school choice in 1992. A memo from Chris Hansen of the ACLU to William Lamson, et. al. with summaries of the history of the Brown III case and strategies for the upcoming appeal.
Case Data and Exhibits for Brown III, a relitigation of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954) that corrected resegregation issues caused by open enrollment school choice in 1992. United States District Judge Richard D. Rogers’ opinion on the case. He states the Topeka School District is unitary and the plaintiff’s claims for relief are denied.
Case Data and Exhibits for Brown III, a relitigation of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954) that corrected resegregation issues caused by open enrollment school choice in 1992. In this court order, United States District Judge Richard D. Rogers denies the plaintiffs' claims for relief, writing "the district has a unitary system of education."
A memo from Black revolutionary woman Nehanda Abiodun, who was exiled to Cuba in 1982, suggesting that a document be created that can be used for dissemination to inform and organize other revolutionary New Afrikan Women around the country. The heading reads: “The New Afrikan: The Struggle is for Land!” The memo is dated July 17, 15 ADM.
A memo from W. Paul Coates of the Black Panther Foundation to the Archives Support Committee about a proposed upcoming trip to Howard University's Moorland-Spingarn Research Center. Coates writes that the role of the foundation is to acquire records from individual members and then get those records into the archive at the research center.
Melba Smith heard about Head Start for the first time in 1968 and after attending a community meeting, she started working for Head Start with the title of Head Teacher. She went on to work as an internal auditor with Head Start. She discusses her roles in those positions as well as other community service oriented jobs she worked over the years.
Meeting minutes From a Topeka Board of Education meeting on September 8, 1964. Topics discussed include the naming of a new school; a report on the five year projection of building and site needs; an enrollment report; and purchases.
