Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2008 "Now I Ain't Sayin' She's a Gold Digger": African American Femininities in Rap Music Lyrics Jennifer M. Pemberton Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact
[email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES “NOW I AIN’T SAYIN’ SHE’S A GOLD DIGGER”: AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMININITIES IN RAP MUSIC LYRICS By Jennifer M. Pemberton A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Sociology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2008 The members of the Committee approve the dissertation of Jennifer M. Pemberton defended on March 18, 2008. ______________________________ Patricia Yancey Martin Professor Directing Dissertation ______________________________ Dennis Moore Outside Committee Member ______________________________ Jill Quadagno Committee Member ______________________________ Irene Padavic Committee Member Approved: ___________________________________ Irene Padavic, Chair, Department of Sociology ___________________________________ David Rasmussen, Dean, College of Social Sciences The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii For my mother, Debra Gore, whose tireless and often thankless dedication to the primary education of children who many in our society have already written off inspires me in ways that she will never know. Thank you for teaching me the importance of education, dedication, and compassion. For my father, Jeffrey Pemberton, whose long and difficult struggle with an unforgiving and cruel disease has helped me to overcome fear of uncertainty and pain. Thank you for instilling in me strength, courage, resilience, and fortitude.