Organized in 1979, the Sapphire Sapphos were DC's earliest social, political and artistic group for African-American lesbians.  The Sapphos met regularly at Northeast DC's historic ENIKAlley Coffeehouse.  Rainbow History has several oral histories by members of the Sapphire Sapphos, including Papaya Mann and Tania Abdulahad.
 

                                   THE RISE OF THE SAPPHIRE SAPPHOS
                                            BY PAPAYA MANN
 

Rise Sisters of the Sapphire Sapphos
        ascend steadily my gentle
forced to be, Sisters of the Night.
Elevation enfolds our every effort
        as we grow above unwarranted criticism
        growing from darkness and obscurity
                                        into the brilliancy of light.
Beautiful Ebony Sapphires
                                        glittering in sensitive feminine delight.
Rise Sapphire Sapphos
        everything... even in its seemingly
                         imbalance of public opinion--eventually
        through efforts like ours will make all be right.
The beauty in the dark transparent gems
        we possess, outshines all the rest,
gleaming now, for all to recognize and see
                          the fruitful value within thee.
Rise Sisters of the Sapphire Sapphos
        priceless gems who cry out not or crave not
        to be hung around any guy's neck
        to know 'we are held in the Creators highest esteem'.
Need not we be branded the property or possession of man to
be aware and intune with our desirability...to each other!
        Uplift Sisters of Sappho
        Our Sister Sappho the Great
        Greek lyric poetess who dwelled on the Isle of Lesbos
        ... a place where we've returned in our hearts.
Raise the flag of sophisticated elegance
we are educated, armed with determination, equipped with each
others' love--and ready to stand up as One for who and what we are...
        Proud,
                    feminine,
                                    yet in no way weak or subservient
Rise Sisters of the Sapphire Sapphos
        Black women collectively we unite.
Proclaiming dignity
                                without mental disruption
        we preserve our self-esteem
                                   self-love
        and provide our  self-motivation
                            and self-dignity
        as we reach outward for Our Morning Glory
We Rise as One
                            Ascending All
                                                    as women, no longer hidden
        in the shadows of the night...
but
        Sisters of the Sapphire Sapphos
        Sisters dwelling in the LIGHT.
 
 
 

                                                        with love,
                                                       PAPAYA 3/15/80