A sad day. Richard Pryor past yesterday. First things first. Richard Prior was fucking hilarious. Truly. His facial expressions. His wit. His fearless deliveries. Any film he made with Gene Wilder. An amazing man born to entertain. Crippled by MS. Tortured by his drug-abusing past, Richard left us far too soon. 65 years. Not nearly long enough for this man who helped change the shape of comedy. He was fearless and undeturred. Calling his fellow men "niggers." Shocking his predominantly black audiences. Straying from the constant bureaucratic push of the men in suits that wanted him to be the next Cosby regurgetation. He challenged political avenues at every crossing. Pushed the boundaries of preconceived biases. During one show, after the return from his first ever trip to Africa, he decided to go on a rant about how often it is that he uses the word "nigger" in his show. Quoting Muhammad Ali he continues "...there is a dignity in their poverty that we don't have. That's what makes them so much stronger than us. As of this day...I will NEVER (pauses while beginning to sob)...use the word "nigger" again." So moving. To watch this perfectly successful (at that point, he was on top of the world) man embrace his own ethical developments in front of 3,000 people (and a video taped performance) was something that was, and is, unheard of. The definition of bravery. Muhammad Ali and Richard Pryor. Two of the most important men in American history. He will be be spoken of as a troubled comedic genius in the major media markets. He was so much more.
Not nearly long enough, sir. Not nearly long enough.
2 comments:
In the early days of cable & vcrs (late 70s, early 80s), we were the first on our block to have either--and both. My dad taped a broadcast of Richard Pryor's show in Long Beach. I still have the cassette and have watched it at least a hundred times. Everyone in my family can quote the routines, and when we do, it's like we're retelling the funny tales of a family member. Though his life got harder and harder, and as I pulled away from media, I saw less and less of him, he will always be living in that moment when we were both young, and he was making me laugh at how absurd it is to be human.
"I know which line I'll be in. The pussy line. That long motherfucker". I hope he died smilin'.
i read that he did die smiling. Isn't that awesome? click my name for the link...
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