DRASTIC DYKES AND ACCIDENTAL ACTIVISTS: LESBIANS, IDENTITY, AND THE NEW SOUTH ...

208 Pages·2012·0.92 MB·English

DRASTIC DYKES AND ACCIDENTAL ACTIVISTS: LESBIANS, IDENTITY, AND
THE NEW SOUTH
by
LA SHONDA CANDACE MIMS
(Under the Direction of James C. Cobb)
ABSTRACT
Lesbian histories exist somewhere between the academic disciplines of history
and gender studies. Southern lesbian histories barely exist at all. Charlotte, North
Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia share an important place in New South lesbian history as
sites of urban connection and identity formation. Within the social spheres of Atlanta
and Charlotte, lesbians formed communities that changed over time in response to the
shifting urban landscape. This historical analysis of Charlotte’s and Atlanta’s lesbian
communities highlights the gaps in southern history, queer history, and women’s history.
Lesbians in these two southern cities will serve as the vehicle through which I seek to
understand religion, race, politics, gender, economic development, class, and urban
history in Charlotte and Atlanta. The development of Charlotte and Atlanta as bastions
of the southern Sun Belt ideal rested on political and economic decisions that were
heavily informed by religious influences. Religious conservatives held sizeable power in
both cities, and often challenged economic or political commitments to seemingly
immoral causes. These challenges necessarily informed identity and community creation
for lesbians. The story I aim to tell is one of twentieth century southern identity—
created at the highest and lowest levels of power. This dissertation reshapes the story of
southern women’s history, but also the story of the twentieth-century Sun Belt South.
Placing lesbians at the center of southern history is a vital retelling of a familiar story.
My goal is to sharpen the edges of southern history and complicate traditional historical
narratives. To broadly question tenacious stereotypes of gender and sexuality in the
South is to topple the strongholds of southern history. By taking apart the familiar
concepts of southern femininity, the southern belle, and genteel sexuality, my work seeks
to upend historical narratives of southern women reframing them in a feminist, sexual,
activist, and social light. Women who chose to live their lives with women in the New
South challenged the traditional structures of gender, and created spaces that would
define urban economies and reshape the urban landscape.

INDEX WORDS: Lesbians, Charlotte, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, New South,
Gay, Feminist, Identity
DRASTIC DYKES AND ACCIDENTAL ACTIVISTS: LESBIANS, IDENTITY, AND
THE NEW SOUTH

by

LA SHONDA CANDACE MIMS
BA, Georgia State University, 1992
MA, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2003

A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

ATHENS, GEORGIA
2012
© 2012
La Shonda Candace Mims
All Rights Reserved
DRASTIC DYKES AND ACCIDENTAL ACTIVISTS: LESBIANS, IDENTITY, AND
THE NEW SOUTH

by

LA SHONDA CANDACE MIMS

Major Professor: James C. Cobb
Committee: John C. Inscoe
Reinaldo Román
John D’Emilio

Electronic Version Approved:

Maureen Grasso
Dean of the Graduate School
The University of Georgia
August 2012
iv

DEDICATION
For Daddy, T, Copeland, and
In Memory Of
Betty H. Mims
1930-2002
v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I have been fortunate to be a part of two extremely supportive departments in my
academic career. While working on my master’s degree at the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte, I came to know many fine professors, including Peter Thorsheim,
Steve Sabol, Dan Dupre, Gregory Mixon, John Smail, Christine Haynes, and Mark
Wilson. They are proof that historians exude goodwill, and their supportive advice has
been invaluable to my development as a scholar. My advisor, Donna Gabaccia, offered a
critique of my master’s thesis that shaped my thoughts for the dissertation and helped me
prepare for the next leg of the journey. Heather A. Thompson also offered important
guidance on the thesis and the profession, and she remains incredibly supportive. Karen
Cox was an excellent writing partner during this project, and I appreciate her willingness
to thoughtfully read my work. Karen Flint and David Johnson have been good friends
and confidantes—offering patient guidance and great company.
I decided to enter graduate school because of Cindy Kierner, and I could write a
book of appreciation just for her. She is a mentor, a true friend, and a cheerleader. Cindy
is often the first person to recommend me for important opportunities, and she has written
letters, read my work, and introduced me to the Southern Association for Women
Historians—an organization that has been vital to my scholarly development. Early in
my graduate career she taught me to state my historical opinions with confidence and to
curb self-deprecating commentary, which radically altered my approach to graduate
school. Cindy also introduced me to David Goldfield—a debonair and unbelievably kind
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human being. David introduced me to the business of this profession while working on
the Journal of Urban History, and as his graduate editorial assistant he always treated me
with the utmost respect. When I arrived at the University of Georgia, it was clear that
David’s words preceded me—and thankfully they were words of praise. His family has
embraced mine, he shares my belief that Chilton County, Alabama grows the best
peaches, and luckily he is my friend.
In Athens, Georgia, my good fortune continued, as I developed relationships with
gifted scholars. Ian Lekus read my master’s thesis and offered formative and invaluable
advice during the early stages of my time there. He also introduced me to Pamela Voekel
and Bethany Moreton who were tenaciously committed to my academic and personal
success—and generous beyond measure. They deserve my deepest appreciation. Paul
Sutter and William Stueck helped me to think critically about teaching, and challenged
me in defining ways. And Kathleen Clark took the time to read my work and offered
important thoughts on how to proceed with my topic.
The professors on my committee are truly the finest in their fields. Reinaldo
Román opened my eyes to new territories of historical thought, and always responded
thoughtfully to my work. I am honored to have benefitted from his careful analysis.
John Inscoe is, as many before me have noted, the kindest human being that one could
hope to meet. He is a champion of my work, and is always available to offer his
assistance and insight. John D’Emilio probably did not realize that I would actually take
him up on his offer to work with me so many years ago—an offer he extended well
before I entered a doctoral program. But, he remained true to his word and to my work.
Finally, no historian could hope for a more exacting or committed mentor than Jim Cobb.
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He treated my work with respect and he offered remarkably detailed comments. He
makes me laugh, and occasionally shake in my boots. I feel lucky to work with him, and
I know that I am a better historian because I have.
The graduate students at Georgia are a fine and robust group of scholars, and
many are now lifelong friends. I could write a paragraph of thanks for each of them.
Kathi Nehls, Jim Gigantino, Levi Van Sant, Blake Scott, Jennifer Wunn, Steve Nash, Zac
Smith, Lisette Montoto, and Jenny Schwartzberg made life in Athens unforgettable.
Jason Manthorne was the best office husband that I could have hoped for—I owe him a
debt of gratitude that I cannot repay. He is a dear friend. The best part by far is that
these people have marked my life permanently, and I know that our time together in
Athens is only the beginning.
The Graduate School, the history department, and the Willson Center at the
University of Georgia all offered vital funding for this dissertation—especially in my
final year of writing. Outside of the university, I received the overwhelmingly generous
Prelinger Scholarship from the Coordinating Council for Women in History that allowed
me to complete this work with minimal distraction. In addition, I had the great fortune of
receiving a research fellowship from the fine staff at Emory University’s Manuscript,
Archives, and Rare Book Library, and Duke University’s Sallie Bingham Center for
Women’s History and Culture also provided fellowship support. While at the Bingham
Center I worked with exceptional librarians, including the spectacular Kelly Wooten, and
I truly enjoyed my days there. During the early stages of this project I was fortunate to
meet Wesley Chenault at the Atlanta History Center, and he provided me with an
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overwhelming amount of resources for this project. He is a fine scholar who is
committed to queer southern history.
Outside of the academy, my good fortune is matchless. I have amazing friends in
Charlotte and I deeply appreciate all of those who have listened to me ramble about this
work and still come back for more. The narrators who shared their stories with me were
committed to my project and they shaped my approach to the research presented here. I
have done my best to be true to them, and am grateful for their willingness to participate.
My good friend, Annette Snapp, has been with this project since its infancy. She is a
brilliant thinker and the truest of friends. During the final months of writing, my brother
patiently read chapter drafts, provided important feedback, and listened to my tales of
woe. But my partner lived this project, and provided a foundation of support that I
cannot adequately explain. She deserves words of gratitude from a better writer than I.
This dissertation is dedicated to her, and the two other people who are in my life every
day—and one who I desperately wish still was. They have my heart.