Diana Ross was 80 years old on 26th March. Lets see how she has overcome the disadvantages of being in so many underprivileged groups and some of the consequences. ,
I first saw Diana Ross perform with the Supremes in the from row of the theatre in my home town of Wigan, UK in 1965 as part of the ‘Motown Ghost Tour’ so-called because nobody went. I last time I saw Diana Ross perform in I guess 1993 somewhere in a stadium near Boston. In 2022, at the age of 78 she performed Glastonbury Festival at least 10 sell out concerts in the UK, and had a top ten album of new songs. Not bad for a 78 year old.
What’s this got to do with the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging)? ,
I will be talking about this at SIETAR Event March 27 Unlocking Innovation and Creativity in Teams using DEIB Strategies (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Belonging) . Register here :https://lnkd.in/dZqPyZsT Listen to SCT’s David Rigby and others (see below)
Being Black
Being Black: Diana Ross, as part of the Supremes and Motown, was the embodiment of ‘The sound of young America’ In particular this was ‘black’ music ‘sanitised’ to capture the American white audience. Largely by ‘code switching’ to play the white preferences – they broke records at traditional white cabaret shows, by copying the white acts including pop and Great American Song Book standards., were the first black artists to really dominate the Ed Sullivan show in the USA and still had to cope with racial segregation when performing ‘down south’ in USA. As the Supremes they also had 12 number one hits in USA.
Being Female
Being Female: Her Father had to sign the Motown Contract. The Supremes had to be chaperoned. They were taught grooming, poise and social graces by Motown’s charm school teacher Maxine Powell. How to get out of a car, how to get off a bar stool, what to do when you met the Queen of England. Of course they met the Queen of England when they performed at the Royal Variety show in 1968. So the training was useful. Being female also meant being told what to do. Berry Gordy did a good job of telling her what to do. She says his belief in her gave her courage to do many things, to leave the Supremes, become an actress. In fact, it wasn’t until 1980 that she finally grew up when she left recording company Motown to RCA with one of the most lucrative contracts for a female, and executive producer in everything.
Being Old
Being Old: Most pop singers have a shelf of 3 years , she is into her 60th year of being a star. She has worked hard for it – the voice is still largely intact. But the major success is the work she has put in, in maintaining her looks, still skinny, she was worrying skinny after the birth of her first two children. To see her as the new poster girl for Saint Laurent at 80 is a great achievement for anyone at any age.
Being Interracially Married
Being Interracially Married: She married twice – both to white men. and didn’t marry the father of her first child, Berry Gordy. Common knowledge now but shocking at the time.
Being a LGBT Icon
Even in her most unpopular moments Diana Ross has been worships by the LGBT+ community. Her Iconic looks have been copied and parodied by drag queens around the world. And her hit song “I’m coming out” is a very popular gay anthem, deliberately planned or otherwise.
Being Included
Diana is included in the international world of the rich and famous. Not the least because she is internationally rich and famous. But she had to learn how to do it. The Motown finishing school was a good start. Being in the eye of the press for so long means she always has to look her best in public.. She notably failed when she got jailed for drunken driving in Arizona in 2012 and was admitted to a rehab facility for drug and alcohol abuse, in 2002.
Belonging
Belonging. Being international meant not being local. Being including in white society meant not belong in black society. She was far more successful outside USA, particularly in UK and Japan. Hasn’t had a hit in USA for years. ‘Proper’ black singers, like Aretha Franklin, Beyonce, Rihanna have loud voices and sing soul and gospel. She doesn’t. Ella Fitzgerald paved the way, she could scat sing but didn’t do it too often so as not to frighten the horses. Diana Ross is just not included when black folk talk about good singers. I wonder if she is concerned.
So, Happy Birthday Diana Ross. Congratulations on the determination in overcoming the many barriers which could have stopped you moving from The Brewster Projects in black Detroit to the superstar you still are and still loved by millions of fans which I am just one.
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Written by David Rigby © 2024 Smart Coaching & Training Ltd
