In many ways, it was Richard Pryor’s comic brilliance that allowed me permission to laugh at issues regarding race, sex, religion, and politics, that I had found suffocating while growing up during the 1960s and 1970s. The hilarious roar of his beautiful spirit, at times frighteningly irreverent, at other times blindingly sagacious, encouraged me to make a joyful creative noise of my own. Upon learning, several months ago, that I had included an extended reference to him in my CREATIVE CONVERSATIN’ interview with the Artist Known as Pleasant, the extraordinary Richard Pryor and his wife Jennifer Lee Pryor graciously provided a link to the article from their own Richard Pryor Forums web site. I was stunned that they had taken such kind notice so wrote to them the following, to which they also responded (artwork: "Path to Monet's Garden" by Ellen Shaw):

Thank you Richard and Jennifer––

For including on your site the link to my article, CREATIVE CONVERSATIN' WITH THE ARTIST KNOWN AS PLEASANT. When most humorists share their art with the world, we are grateful because their entertainment skills provide us some relief from the more mundane demands of everyday living. When you, Mr. Pryor, made a gift of your singular genius to the world, you blessed us all with laughter and insight that healed so much, from the pained ravages of racism and class discrimination to the individual terrors of childhood trauma and failed self-esteem. Thank you for bringing your light into this world and allowing it to illuminate higher possibilities for what it means to be authentically human. With much love, peace, and many blessings to you and yours--

Aberjhani 

To: Aberjhani,

We were pleased and honored to include it on our site! Thank you for your warm and loving words.

jen and rp

I’m grateful that I was allowed to give him the flower of the above words before he left this world.

Aberjhani

© 12/10/2005