Richard Pryor’s daughter grapples with the complexities of a notorious word

The Treatment

Richard Pryor’s daughter grapples with the complexities of a notorious word

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Published on Jul 31, 2026, 6:00:00 AM
Total time: 00:22:02

Episode Description

For historian and professor Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor, wrestling with  language is part of her job. However, she admits she was left speechless the day a student in one of her classes used the N-word. That moment was the impetus for her new book 'Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me.'

 

Stordeur Pryor is the daughter of the late comedian, who often used the word in his comedy. The book is an examination of her complicated relationship to the word and to her father. Stordeur Pryor talks to Elvis about what her father was like off stage, how the N-word led to a rift between her father and her white mother, and how she feels now about that day in class. 

 

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The Treatment is a compelling listen to the vital conversations about the catalysts of creative inspiration. Following some of the most interesting, influential, and crossover creators in the world of entertainment, fashion, sports, and the arts, we hear from tastemakers who are the very fabric that forms popular culture.