The Black Female Quest for Diva-hood
November 8, 2009I’m so tired of hearing overly headstrong and insecure black females with no self-identity proclaiming to the world that they are divas. Webster defines a diva as “a usually glamorous and successful female performer or personality”. First of all the people calling themselves divas are usually not performers of any kind although some of them are glamorous. That’s like saying that milk and ice cream are the same thing. They aren’t.
Webster also defines a diva as a prima donna. The second definition of prima donna is “a vain or undisciplined person who finds it difficult to work under direction or as part of a team”. That sounds closer to the truth for most black women claiming diva status. Black women worship their favorite music stars like Mariah Carey and Rihanna and try to imitate them but they fall far from success. Real divas bring people together, not tear them apart.
Black women are in serious need of role models but divas are not the same thing as drama queens. Chaka Khan is a diva. Patti Labelle is a diva. Aretha Franklin is a diva. Teena Marie is a white diva. A loudmouth ghetto chickenhead who always starts fights at the club in her new outfit is not.
