Richard Pryor's Horrible Legacy
Robert Paul Reyes
December 12, 2005
The world lost a giant in the world of comedy when Richard Pryor died over the weekend from a heart attack. He was 65.
Pryor, the stand-up comic whose expletive-filled riffs influenced generations of funnymen in his wake, suffered from ill heal with multiple sclerosis for years.
Pryor's cutting edge material influenced everyone from Eddie Murphy to Dave Letterman.
In the 1980's Pryor translated his accomplishment in comedy clubs to a very successful big-screen career, a career path that has been copied by dozens of comics.
Comedians, as well as everyone who treasures the healing power of a good hearty laugh, owes Pryor gratitude and respect.
All that I have written so far is true, and 99% of the obituaries written about Richard Pryor go on in this vein.
But Pryor's legacy is tainted by his obsession with the ghetto's underbelly of pimps, ho's and winos.
The Pryor stage persona was a "nigga" who was well versed in the world of drugs, crime and prostitution. Pryor legitimized the use of the loathsome word "nigger", repeating it dozens of times during his comedy routines.
Go to any school and you will hear black children calling each other nigga, you will even hear white kids refer to each other as nigga. Martin Luther King would turn over in his grave if he witnessed this sad state of affairs.
In another generation Pryor would have been one of those black entertainers who donned blackface to appeal to a white audience.
Rap artists who glorify violence and act like pimps and thugs did not appear out of nowhere, Richard Pryor showed them that adopting ugly stereotypes is the path to wealth and riches.
Apologists for hip-hop claim that only a few rap performers pen lyrics that glorify violence and insult women and homosexuals. The sad truth is that the vast majority of rap music is anathema to anyone who values peace, brotherhood and women's rights.
For every rap group like Outkast that has a positive and life-affirming message there are scores that have a negative impact on American culture in general and African American culture in particular.
Sean Combs charged with possession of a deadly weapon; Snoop Dogg convicted of a drug offense; Lil' Kim convicted of perjury; Foxy Brown charged with assault; 50 cent's posse involved in a shootout; Shyne convicted of attempted murder; Tupac Shakur convicted of sexually abusing a woman; C-Murder convicted of second-degree murder. The biggest names in the rap game fall victim to trying to live out the violent fantasies that they rap about.
Supporters of Richard Pryor and rappers claim that their heroes are only "keeping it real."
I was born in the predominantly African American inner city of Hunter's Point, but I'm not going to "keep it real" by writing editorials that glorify pimps, drug dealers and ho's.
I'm going to "keep it real" by writing essays, short stories and novels that elevate humankind and don't bring us down to the gutter.
There are many proud African Americans living in inner cities who are "keeping it real" by working hard to provide for their families and keeping their children away from drugs.
I hope that these hard-working African Americans also seek to keep their children away from the pernicious influence of rap.
Today I mourn the loss of Richard Pryor, a comedy genius, but I also mourn when I look upon the terrible legacy he left us.
Pryor, the stand-up comic whose expletive-filled riffs influenced generations of funnymen in his wake, suffered from ill heal with multiple sclerosis for years.
Pryor's cutting edge material influenced everyone from Eddie Murphy to Dave Letterman.
In the 1980's Pryor translated his accomplishment in comedy clubs to a very successful big-screen career, a career path that has been copied by dozens of comics.
Comedians, as well as everyone who treasures the healing power of a good hearty laugh, owes Pryor gratitude and respect.
All that I have written so far is true, and 99% of the obituaries written about Richard Pryor go on in this vein.
But Pryor's legacy is tainted by his obsession with the ghetto's underbelly of pimps, ho's and winos.
The Pryor stage persona was a "nigga" who was well versed in the world of drugs, crime and prostitution. Pryor legitimized the use of the loathsome word "nigger", repeating it dozens of times during his comedy routines.
Go to any school and you will hear black children calling each other nigga, you will even hear white kids refer to each other as nigga. Martin Luther King would turn over in his grave if he witnessed this sad state of affairs.
In another generation Pryor would have been one of those black entertainers who donned blackface to appeal to a white audience.
Rap artists who glorify violence and act like pimps and thugs did not appear out of nowhere, Richard Pryor showed them that adopting ugly stereotypes is the path to wealth and riches.
Apologists for hip-hop claim that only a few rap performers pen lyrics that glorify violence and insult women and homosexuals. The sad truth is that the vast majority of rap music is anathema to anyone who values peace, brotherhood and women's rights.
For every rap group like Outkast that has a positive and life-affirming message there are scores that have a negative impact on American culture in general and African American culture in particular.
Sean Combs charged with possession of a deadly weapon; Snoop Dogg convicted of a drug offense; Lil' Kim convicted of perjury; Foxy Brown charged with assault; 50 cent's posse involved in a shootout; Shyne convicted of attempted murder; Tupac Shakur convicted of sexually abusing a woman; C-Murder convicted of second-degree murder. The biggest names in the rap game fall victim to trying to live out the violent fantasies that they rap about.
Supporters of Richard Pryor and rappers claim that their heroes are only "keeping it real."
I was born in the predominantly African American inner city of Hunter's Point, but I'm not going to "keep it real" by writing editorials that glorify pimps, drug dealers and ho's.
I'm going to "keep it real" by writing essays, short stories and novels that elevate humankind and don't bring us down to the gutter.
There are many proud African Americans living in inner cities who are "keeping it real" by working hard to provide for their families and keeping their children away from drugs.
I hope that these hard-working African Americans also seek to keep their children away from the pernicious influence of rap.
Today I mourn the loss of Richard Pryor, a comedy genius, but I also mourn when I look upon the terrible legacy he left us.
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