How Black Women Icons Became "Divas" (w/ Patrick L. Riley)

My guest for this episode is award winning independent producer, writer, critic, and Diana Ross superfan Patrick L. Riley.

His book, That's What Friends Are For: On The Women Who Inspired Me , provides a nice jumping off point for us to discuss the history of the term "diva" as it is used for Black women. Mr.

Riley breaks down the early 20th Century use of the word for the Black women blues and jazz singers dubbed "the dark divas." He then details the revival of the term for celebrated Black women of music, film, stage, and business, from the late 70s through the modern day. We ground most of the discussion in Mr.

Riley's personal experience as a fan of said divas, with a particular emphasis on Diana Ross, and we get into why the divas have such a passionate following among (Black) gay men. Facebook: Instagram: Book: That's What Friends Are For: On The Women Who Inspired Me Full episode notes here: