Dick Gregory, Activist Comedian

This show is about Dick Gregory, the comedian, civil rights activist, and author whose pioneering stand-up routines made him a prominent voice in both the fields of entertainment and social justice. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1932, Gregory rose to national fame after his breakthrough performance at Chicago’s Playboy Club, and in 1961 became the first African-American comedian allowed to sit for an interview on NBC's Tonight Show. Gregory's sharp, satirical takes on race and society resonated with both Black and white audiences, which was a rarity at the time. Dick Gregory used his celebrity to advocate for civil rights, and even ran for President in 1968, bringing attention to human rights, nutrition, and environmentalism during a turbulent period in American history. Gregory joined protest marches, organized voter registration drives, and participated in hunger strikes. Over the decades, he influenced generations of comedians from Richard Pryor to Dave Chappelle. You're going to hear Dick Gregory giving a speech at the City Club Forum in Cleveland, Ohio on the City Club's nationwide radio network in March 1983. More at KRob Collection.com