Day Tripping: December 1

Blaze of laughter

Richard Pryor was born and raised in his grandmother’s brothel with his prostitute mother. His father LeRoy was a boxer and a pimp. In 1940, the life he entered into forced him to either see humor or perish.

In 1958, Richard joined the US Army and spent nearly the whole two years in prison. He had joined other black soldiers in the beating of a white soldier who was visibly enjoying a racially charged scene in a film.

After moving to New York in 1962, Pryor started performing standup in clubs where Bob Dylan and Woody Allen also took the stage. At the end of the decade, he was writing for television sitcoms and won an Emmy.

“I went to Zimbabwe. I know how white people feel in America now; relaxed! Cause when I heard the police car I knew they weren’t coming after me!”

Richard Pryor's comedy career took hard looks at race relations in the United States. His language often included the use of the ’N’ word. He was constantly at legal odds with the recording industry.

At the same time, he was becoming a huge film star and writer. And after visiting Africa, he vowed to never use the word again. There was no middle ground for Richard Pryor, or his fans and detractors.

Today is:

Antarctica Day — Get your boots and gloves, and toques and slide on the ice.

Musical Ride

Alice In Chains guitar player Jerry Cantrell missed his December 1 concert in Memphis opening for Van Halen in 1991. The reason?

Jerry was still out hunting, thinking that November had 31 days.

Interesting Notes

Ona bus in Alabama in 1955, Rosa Parks did what so many others would do well to repeat in the face of an oppressor. She quietly refused.

Gone But Not Forgotten

As founder of one of the first all-string jazz bands, Stéphane Grappelli pioneered the genre for orchestral string players. Over his eight decades career, Grapelli became known as the grandfather of jazz violinists. Stéphane died in 1997 at age 89.

Notable Births

1935 — Woody Allen: “I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”

1939 — Lee Trevino: “The older I get the better I used to be!”

K. Barrett Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr. Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, Ph.D. Terry Trueman Dr. Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora Thewriteyard David Perlmutter Joe Luca Holly Kellums Michael Burg, MD Lucy Dan Dave Logan

All previous Day Tripping entries are available at the following links:

The Story Of Day Tripping Through History What’s Past Is Often Present

A comprehensive directory for Day Tripping