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Abstract

This dissertation investigates the contributions of Black women within Southern hip-hop dance cultures in Atlanta, Ga, utilizing the conceptual framework of Dirty South Feminism. The framework I developed illuminates the intersections of Black social dancing, hip-hop feminism, and Black geographies, fostering a deeper understanding of Black Southern culture. Rooted in Atlanta’s rich cultural landscape, this study explores how Black women use dance as a form of resistance, identity-making, and storytelling in physical and digital spaces. The research employs a hiphopography approach to capture the lived experiences of Black women growing up in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene. In this context, focusing on Atlanta and the rise of its social dances, I conducted a focus group of four Black women and one femme to understand their perspectives on growing up in Atlanta and the dance trends and communities that influenced their connection to the city and Southern hip-hop culture. The findings from the focus group suggest that Atlanta remains central to the evolution of Southern hip-hop dance, with Black women acting as cultural architects who shape the development, aesthetics, and socio-economic growth of Atlanta’s hip-hop scene. Their performances challenge mainstream representations, reaffirming agency in a genre and city that have historically marginalized them. Ultimately, Dirty South feminism offers a unique perspective on how and why Black women navigate and shape Southern hip-hop culture. By prioritizing the voices and contributions of these participants, this work challenges prevailing narratives and asserts Atlanta as a hub of hip-hop feminist resistance, creativity, and cultural innovation.