Page 51 - The Peorian, Vol 3 Issue 2

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Continued on page 52
We are all products of our cul-
ture and how we face the future
as adults is rooted largely in
what we experience as children.
Now take a few moments and
consider your background. Think
about your youth, the home(s)
you lived in, the kids in your
neighborhood, your friends at
school, how you were raised and
who influenced you during your
formative years. Now consider
Richard Pryor’s:
• Richard Pryor, the son of a prosti-
tute and a drunken father, grew up
in the brothel that was run by his
beloved grandmother.
• Richard found himself in an
environment filled with prostitutes,
pimps, alcoholics and druggies
along with a smattering of politi-
cians and well-to-do Peorians.
• Through the wall in his room, he
could hear his mother with clients,
pained not only by the activity but
the oft-accompanying violence.
• In his younger years, he was
molested by an older boy and was
mocked by other kids as a result.
• He was thrown out of Sunday
morning church because of his
background even though many
of those in the pews were at his
grandma’s place the Saturday
night before.
• He was molested by a priest.
When Richard’s drunken father
found out, what did he do? Fly
into a rage? Call the authorities?
No, Richard’s father encouraged
Richard to flirt with the priest in
order to blackmail him.
Now, consider your own back-
ground once again. How does
it compare to Richard’s? Any-
thing close? And what have you
achieved? Better yet, ask yourself
if you did have the same back-
ground, could you have reached
your current station in life (as
high or as humble as it may be)
let alone become the most influ-
ential ANYTHING?
Richard Pryor won five Gram-
mys, one Emmy, released 19
albums (including eight albums
in three years), made over 50
movie appearances, co-hosted
two Academy Awards and was
the first person honored with the
Mark Twain Prize for American
Humor by the Kennedy Center.
Oh, and he co-wrote “Blazing
Saddles” (interestingly enough,
according to Mel Brooks, Pryor
wrote most of the “white jokes”
while Brooks wrote most of the
“black jokes”).
Now I like to think quite highly
of myself, but even I can’t fathom
achieving what Richard achieved
if I had come from the same
background. Reaching adulthood
with no addictions would have
been success enough.
And the best this city can mus-
ter is an honorary street title?
Now don’t get me wrong:
there’s no glossing over Richard’s
ugly side. His violence towards
the women he loved (and there
were many) is inexcusable no
matter what toxic mixtures he
was under the influence of at the
time.
While he was charming and
lovable, he was also malevolent.
His rage didn’t always arise in
a passion; sometimes it seemed
cool and calculated. He could be
very cruel and then, naturally,
very apologetic, which creates an
ugly cycle where violence and
love become intertwined. This
ugly side should accompany
any serious look into his life and
times.