Richard Pryor. (YouTube)

Police killings of unarmed black people have poured gasoline on the race relations debate in America, but the United States has been a divided country since its founding.

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Richard Pryor pointed out this fact 40 years ago. In a television interview with journalist Bill Boggs, the late, great comedian explained why white America doesn’t want to stop racism.

WATCH: Compassion Leads to Action When It Comes to Racial Injustice

“They are probably afraid of that, because then people don’t hate each other,” Pryor said. “Then, people start talking to each other. And then, they start talking to each other and they find out who’s the problem.”

And who is the problem?

It’s “greedy people,” according to Pryor.

For some bonus material, Pryor talks about his comedic influences with James Earl Jones and gets roasted.

—Posted by Eric Ortiz