Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me
Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor
(37 Ink, 2026)

Inspired by Pryor’s viral TED talk on why it’s hard to talk about the N-word, Something We Said is a braided narrative that integrates the history of the N-word with Pryor’s own story. Growing up the Black Jewish daughter of Richard Pryor, she went on to become a leading scholar and teacher of the controversial word that was central to her father’s comedy. Through the lens of her story and deep research, Pryor confronts the history of the notorious slur, working to unpack the messy, sometimes surprising, legacy of racism in the United States.

This event is presented in partnership with Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice and ACLU of Delaware.

About the Author
Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor is a professor of history at Smith College, where she focuses on 19th century US history and race. She studied history at Tufts, Cornell, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Pryor grew up in Los Angeles and now lives with her husband in North Hampton, MA.

Purchase the book
Please help support local independent bookstores by purchasing this book at Browseabout Books, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Online sources and digital versions are tempting; however, supporting local brick and mortar shops helps to preserve our vibrant main streets. Drop by Browseabout, order books online, or call the store at 302-226-2665. You also may purchase a copy at biblion in Lewes.

About the Festival
The History Book Festival is the first and only book festival in the United States devoted exclusively to history. With the help of our presenting funding partner —  The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | PenFed Realty — as well as our program and community partners, volunteers, and donors, the 2026 History Book Festival will be full of great discussions with authors of newly published narrative nonfiction and historical fiction. 

Thanks to all our donors, especially our education and outreach funding partners: Carolyn & Aaron Nayer, Jen Mason & Clare Hancock, the Red Wagon Foundation, and Browseabout Books. HBF authors visit classrooms in Delaware, and HBF provides their books to schools, libraries, and community organizations.

Our Keynote event is presented by Griswold Home Care for Sussex & Kent Counties and Groome Church; our Closing event is presented by the Delaware Community Foundation. The Spirited Discussion, our gathering for attendees and presenters to celebrate and discuss their day, is presented by Dogfish Head Beer & Benevolence.

Special thanks to our Program Partners for their continuing support: the Lewes Public Library for event promotion and production; Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, official bookseller of the History Book Festival; and Historic Lewes for event promotion and author hospitality. Thanks also to the Lewes Chamber of Commerce for event promotion, and the Cape Gazette and Delmarva Public Media, our media partners.