ZAMI Records
The ZAMI Records document the history, organizing work, and cultural legacy of ZAMI NOBLA (National Organization of Black Lesbians on Aging), a nonprofit collective founded to empower and affirm lesbians of African descent in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Spanning primarily from 1990 to 2009, this collection preserves the administrative, cultural, and community-building efforts of one of Atlanta’s most influential Black lesbian organizations.
The collection includes secretarial and administrative records, organizational herstory, correspondence, newspaper clippings, tributes, staffing and employment documentation, instructional workshops and presentations, travel records, ceremonial programs, and editorial publications. Also included are materials related to support group development, meetings, collaborations with allied organizations, and community events. Together, these records provide a comprehensive view of ZAMI’s internal operations and its public-facing advocacy.
ZAMI’s origins trace back to October 1989, when a Women of Color Caucus (WOCC) formed within the African American Lesbian and Gay Alliance (AALGA) to address the political, social, economic, and personal needs of Black lesbians. The organization later adopted the name ZAMI, honoring the legacy of Audre Lorde, the renowned Black lesbian feminist poet and author of ZAMI: A New Spelling of My Name. The term “ZAMI,” derived from a Carriacou word meaning “women who work together as friends and lovers,” reflects the organization’s commitment to collective care, solidarity, and empowerment.
Historically, ZAMI has served as a vital support base for lesbians of African descent in Atlanta through advocacy, leadership development, discussion groups, social programming, outreach, and education. The organization is especially recognized for its Audre Lorde Scholarship Fund, which has supported generations of Black lesbian and queer women pursuing higher education. ZAMI’s programming also included marches, rallies, fundraising events, cultural observances, support groups, collegiate engagement initiatives, and community-centered activities such as the ZAMI Dating Game.
The ZAMI Records offer researchers, students, and the public a rich archive documenting Black lesbian organizing, feminist leadership, and community care in the U.S. South. They stand as an essential contribution to African American, LGBTQ+, feminist, and women’s history.