by Lynnette McCollum
I have often been called “diva”. There was usually a noun that either preceded or came after the word diva. When I sang secular music, I was called Divalto. In my business career some of my staff referred to me as Mz. Diva. In my younger days amongst very, very close friends only I was referred to as “Divaho”. Now in that group of friends everyone had a “ho” attached to her name. There was Idaho (Ida), Taho (Tanya), Gloho (Gloria), and Sueho (Susan). My nickname however, had nothing to do with my real name. I don’t possess any exceptional beauty, I was not 36x24x36, nor was I an outright flirt. I was told that my name derived my inadvertent ability to “draw folks in”. Not just in the area of sexuality but in every aspect of my life, I radiated “that certain something”. I am now terribly embarrassed by colluding with that type of language and mentality and hate the fact that I allowed it to go on. Although the “diva” was intended as a term of endearment and compliment to me at the time, I now know that for me to allow that “ho” part to be tagged on was ignorant and unacceptable.
I can imagine that after reading the above you may determine that I am proud of the “diva” categorization. Well in all honesty, I guess I am. SHOCKED? Well, let me explain what I mean. I admit that initially, I was very uncomfortable with being called a diva anything. Did not like the attention it drew to me. I though people were saying I thought too highly of myself because, believe me I did not, but that is another subject for another time. The reason that I say I am a diva is because Continue reading
