The incident hurt his career, but only temporarily; his film and TV work grew, and his new stand-up material was more true to his own voice.

Although Pryor resisted overtly linking his comedy with radical politics, he could not ignore events such as the civil rights movement, and took time off for a period of intense self-education in black history and culture.

[8] Nevertheless, as University of Michigan cultural studies professor Bambi Haggins has noted, the first signs of Pryor's mature, "uncontainable and unpredictable" comic style are readily apparent on Richard Pryor—most obviously on the cover art, but also in the contentious point of view in routines like "Super Nigger.

Pryor, clad only in a loincloth, wore a ring in his nose and stared defiantly at the camera as he brandished a primitive-looking bow and arrow.

"[7] Joe Marchese of The Second Disc called the album "an auspicious introduction for one of the most significant and influential stand-up comedians of all time".

[12] Omnivore Recordings released an expanded edition in 2021 with bonus material selected from the box set Evolution/Revolution: The Early Years.