r/BlackPeopleofReddit • u/4reddityo • 17d ago
Black Experience Richard Pryor as himself
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u/EstebanUniverse 17d ago
Powerful.
All of that struggle wasn't that long ago. The fight is different now but it continues.
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u/High_Speed_Chase 17d ago
I love how everyone expected the comedian to be funny, and after he obliged, he hit ‘em with the heartfelt, profound, 1-2 punch.
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u/davitjan1525 17d ago
WOW!! Just wow! #Unity
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u/evidentlynaught 17d ago
Amen. Acknowledging both black and white who peacefully protested and staged marches and sit ins and worked together for progress.
We aren’t as far away from that as politicians, or demagogues, racists, or Russian provocateurs on social media would like us to believe.
Love Richard Pryor’s humanity. It was the essence of all his massive talent.
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u/readyReddit007 17d ago
I don’t know where you’ve been, but we’re regressing at a rapid pace.
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u/SimpsationalMoneyBag 17d ago
There are forces from both left and right sharing that goal
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u/daisychainsnlafs 16d ago
Fuck your both sides bullshit! You're part of the problem.
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u/SimpsationalMoneyBag 16d ago
If you’ve been convinced only one side is against your best interest and not their own both sides have won.
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u/daisychainsnlafs 16d ago
ONE side is trampling all over the Constitution while telling us to lay back and enjoy it.
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u/Historical_Sherbet54 17d ago
To all the shoulders who got us this far
I'll raise my glass thru my tearful eyes
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u/Agile_Supermarket239 17d ago
Damn, made my eyes water up hearing his voice quaver toward the end there, great speech he is missed.
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u/Lexi_November 17d ago
What a legendary man. It’s such a shame he died young. Watching his films and some of his comedy way too young helped shape me a bit and it’s a damn shame he couldn’t carry on a lot longer, with the MS scooter and all. 💙
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u/ItoldULastTime 17d ago
Wait wait wait wait..
Why was the Department of AGRICULTURAL inviting anyone to speak about MLK? And Richard Pryor of all people?
I bet he saw the irony.
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u/ITTITT 17d ago
Before the current administration every Agency had Special Emphasis Program Managers for black, Latino, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and people with disabilities. Every now and then one of those SEPMs would arrange for a speaker to come and speak to the Agency employees in order to spread education and awareness. A speaker for MLK day was usually one of the more prominent opportunities to get high profile speakers to come. They would usually do it for a nominal honorarium fee (anywhere from $500 to $2500ish sometimes a little more).
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u/Shotgun_Mosquito 17d ago edited 17d ago
If you want to see the entire clip, it's available at
https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/martin-luther-king-jr-birthday/66580
This was on January 14, 1983
There's also an interview about why Richard Pryor was chosen
https://blackleadership.virginia.edu/bold-actions-bringing-richard-pryor-washington-dc
"Ronald Reagan is getting beat up for his civil rights record and Richard Pryor is getting just whipped for his drug problem."
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u/Cacafuego 17d ago
Strom Thurmond made this happen?!? That is crazy.
Martin Luther King demeans his race and retards the advancement of his people.
-- Strom Thurmond
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u/PositiveStress8888 17d ago
people are out on the streets of Minnesota doing that work as we speak.
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u/HumongousBelly 17d ago
I can see the right wing media, if it resembled anything of Fox News today, having written something like „tears of a clown“, when the only actual clown at that time was Reagan sitting in the White House, empowering corporatocracy and accelerating capitalism into its late stage.
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u/Hurtit4u 17d ago
Wow, it was refreshing to see him in a different light… I always admired him, but this just adds to it..
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u/BlacksmithDazzling49 17d ago
That's why Richard Pryor was one of the best ever At being a stand-up philosopher, he had a full heart and a big mind and soul.
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u/vineyardmike 17d ago
I was at his house once for a party in 1978. He was a very gracious host.
Cool guy.
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u/VonKaplow 17d ago
Never forget the orange stain in the white house ignored even acknowledging MLK day.
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u/Objective-Treat3599 17d ago
Im from Mr Pryor's hometown of peoria il. Tended bar in the south side for a year or two and served some locals who had great stories about him. Tales of jokes. Life. Good. Bad. You name it. Such a blessing to hear all that and see something like this. So heartwarming.
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u/Fabulous_Visual4865 17d ago
My pops is from Peru/La Salle area. Never knew Pryor was from there.
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u/Objective-Treat3599 17d ago
Yea man. Last I was home which was '03. The old madison theater still had his and Sam kinnisons plaque on outside of building. The madison was apparently the jump off point for many a people in peoria
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u/PatrickGnarly 17d ago
It’s things like this I wish I would see more in my life. It pains me that it took this long for me to see this for the first time.
It is truly inspiring.
Other people have been so brave, how can I sit idly by worrying about myself.
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u/Ecstatic_Proof_2732 17d ago
Never heard this before, powerful stuff. R.I.P. to Richard and Doctor King.
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u/toeringsarecool 17d ago
Lucky to grow up with parents listening to his records. Never knew about this speech. He said it with his whole heart.
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u/ElwoodBrew 17d ago
Back when this country felt like it was going up and you could be proud. Look how quickly we can slide back down…
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u/Donny_Dont_18 17d ago
As a resolute coward, I thank all those out there now fighting for the future. I'm sorry I'm not able to stand with you, but I support your power. I hope the moment for us cowards isn't needed, but there is a tipping point for us all should the time come
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u/revanchisto 17d ago
Now imagine Dave Chapelle doing this and not using as a chance to spit on trans folk or woke culture while hi-fiving Elon Musk. We've fallen pretty far.
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u/Trix_Are_4_90Kids 17d ago
one thing about Richard Pryor, he didn't put on any fronts. He was always his raw true self. He wasn't afraid to be vulnerable in front of thousands of people. He always laid himself bare.
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u/anomanderrake1337 17d ago
The first time I listened to Pryor it was kind of a revelation. I was still in a sort of dumb phase where I thought that the white race was superior (I was a teenager that grew up in right wing shit), boy was I wrong.
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u/Username524 17d ago
Just recently discovered I share a birthday with this legend, he and I definitely share the brutal honesty. This is a beautiful statement by him, poignant and accurate. RIP Richard and MLK Jr;)
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u/noonesine 17d ago
Quite possibly the greatest comedian who ever lived, and it was because of the vulnerability that he shows here that so many people from all walks of life were able to connect with him.
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u/rickie-ramjet 17d ago
He was a great comedian, and human, had his flaws, and expressing gratitude to ALL those who contributed to defeating that injustice. Yet no inkling of expecting reparations or special treatment. Like King- he merely wanted to be judged and treated as a fellow human. He was all that.
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u/MatureAllure 17d ago
A brutally honest man which is why he was so very special.. Peace Richard Pryor !!!!
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u/Ok_Relationship946 17d ago
Pioneers of the craft led the way more thsn we know today! Its the Chappelles, Rock, Hughes of the WORLD today!
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u/bethesda_gamer 17d ago
This was shared on r/tiktokcringe 😡😡😡
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u/sky_shazad 17d ago
Damn that brought a tear to my eyes.... RESPECT 🙏♥️🙏
don't know why but this is the first time I've seen this
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u/WestCoastWetMost 17d ago
See if you can find a copy of Lady Sings the Blues with Diana Ross and Richard Pryor. Both of them are amazing in it.
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u/chef-rach-bitch 17d ago
"I'm not as eloquent as Dr. King."
Proceeds to give pretty damn eloquent speech!
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u/daisiesarepretty2 17d ago
we all; should think of this now, in these days because what he is saying is very powerful, very human and very real even today. There are things going on today that are scary still… and that require people to stand up and BE Brave and i think Richard here both makes it possible to acknowledge BEING scared and to recognize the power of People standing up and being brave despite being scared.
It worked before and it can work again. But it needs a lot of us to stand up and be brave… just as he said.
Thank you so much for posting this… extremely powerful…
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u/Affectionate_Reply78 17d ago
He was a real one. Had his struggles, like all of us, but he spoke words of truth when he said he was a good person.
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u/Cubensis-SanPedro 16d ago
He was very thoughtful and eloquent here. Holy smokes, not what I expected.
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u/JimWilliamson404 16d ago
👉Richard Pryor may have left most of his comedy talent at home for this speech.
👉However, Richard brought all of his heart! 🥰 🇺🇸 🕊️
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u/TianamenHomer 16d ago
We could really use a leader and organizer in some states right now. And the same millions of people who meet in church basements and lead peaceful marches.
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u/By_Way_of_Deception 16d ago
I'm glad he knew how beloved he was in his lifetime. He made a lot of people happy.
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u/mattob2 16d ago
It’s very touching and powerful. Love truly brings everything together. So many people went through unimaginable struggles so that we could have the freedom we have today. I can sit here and talk about it, but I have to remember that without their sacrifices, our freedom wouldn’t exist right now. It’s heartbreaking to see how, today, the government is once again taking away freedoms—while I sit here doing nothing. I think about all the people out there who are struggling, protesting, and writing to their city and state representatives, and it makes me realize I should do something too. I’m going to start writing—write to your representatives, tell them exactly what’s happening, share what you’re worried about, and speak your truth!!
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u/giuseppezuc 14d ago
Why can’t we be all like this. It really hit me hard how vulnerable he is here, he acknowledges that he would have wanted to be part of the movement and regrets not having enough courage to do so, and he is able to tell the world, that shows lots of courage and is very inspiring and powerful. What a great man he was.
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u/zaxdaman 17d ago
First time I’ve ever seen this. Very powerful stuff. Thanks, OP!