[TravisBickle]

As he revealed in his last performance films, Pryor understood the prison he had built for himself . . .

This reminds of a time I saw him on the Tonight Show, or some such interview program. He had just finished working on Stir Crazy, which takes place in a prison. During the interview, he mentioned how he had gone to a real prison to get a feel for what it was really like, and after getting to meet some of the residents, he said, "Thank God, they got penitentiaries!"

I'm not so sure I'd agree with Stanley Crouch that Pryor begat so much of the vulgar culture that exists today. There has been ample opportunity for denouncements, and there are far too few. Bill Cosby is one who speaks out, and I wonder what Pryor might have done if not for his health. In Richard Pryor:Live From The Sunset Strip, he pretty much disavows much of his past language and bitterness. But that doesn't draw too many headlines.

[.cnI redruM]

You make an interesting point. Hollywood can influence what you see from a comedian, or anyone else. They just won't pay for what either a) doesn't sell, or b) doesn't fit their set of stereotypes.

Pryor may very well have disavowed a lot of the gross stuff he said. His disavowals just ended up not making the editor's cut.

[NYCVirago]

I'm not so sure I'd agree with Stanley Crouch that Pryor begat so much of the vulgar culture that exists today. There has been ample opportunity for denouncements, and there are far too few. Bill Cosby is one who speaks out, and I wonder what Pryor might have done if not for his health. In Richard Pryor:Live From The Sunset Strip, he pretty much disavows much of his past language and bitterness. But that doesn't draw too many headlines.

I think Crouch is right for this reason -- I've heard more than one black artist who uses the N-word cite Pryor as the reason why (Aaron McGruder of Boondocks is one person who has used that excuse), even though, as you allude to, Pryor later disavowed using the N-word.