Smith ScholarWorks Theses, Dissertations, and Projects 2016 How does hip hop serve as a catalyst for collective resistance : "Fight the power"- a beats, rhymes, and life approach : a project based upon an investigation at Beats, Rhymes and Life Maria Camila Camacho Smith College Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses Part of the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation Camacho, Maria Camila, "How does hip hop serve as a catalyst for collective resistance : "Fight the power"- a beats, rhymes, and life approach : a project based upon an investigation at Beats, Rhymes and Life" (2016). Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA. https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/1715 This Masters Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in Theses, Dissertations, and Projects by an authorized administrator of Smith ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Maria Camila Camacho Garrido How Does Hip Hop Serve as a Catalyst for Collective Resistance? “Fight the Power” – a Beats, Rhymes, & Life Approach ABSTRACT This qualitative study explores what elements of social justice, Hip Hop, and therapy the Oakland, California based agency Beats, Rhymes, & Life, Inc. (BRL) engages in to ignite Collective Resistance among its members, youth, and the outside community. The study utilized a mix of both narrative and phenomenological approaches throughout. In total, twelve participants were interviewed, however, only six participants were included for the purpose of this research and ranged from teaching artists, clinicians, community members, and leaders of BRL. Each participant was asked a series of questions regarding (1) Hip Hop, (2) Oppression and Power, and (3) Collective Resistance along with exploring the role BRL plays throughout those spaces.