Rain Pryor is many things: an actress, singer, performer, comedian, mother, one-time city council candidate in the City of Baltimore… and, yes, daughter of Richard Pryor, the famous comedian. Her mother, Shelley Bonus, a former go-go-dancer turned astronomer, was Jewish; Rain grew up studying Torah with her grandfather and learning to make latkes with her bubbe.

Rain has been outspoken about her upbringing and cultural identity, which featured prominently in her acclaimed autobiographical one-woman show, Fried Chicken & Latkes. Yet despite her activism, plainspoken personality and deep appreciation of her Jewish identity, like many Jews of colour, she’s still questioned in Jewish spaces.

Relevant links

• Watch a clip from Fried Chicken & Latkes on YouTube
• Follow Rain on Twitter @RainPryor

Rivkush is hosted by Rivka Campbell. Michael Fraiman is the editor and prodcer. Our theme music is by Westside Gravy. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network; find more great Jewish podcasts at thecjn.ca.