Remembering Dick Gregory

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August 19th marks the anniversary of the passing of Comedian and Civil Rights Activist Dick Gregory, and we honor a man who transformed comedy from entertainment into a weapon for social justice. Gregory died on August 19, 2017, at age 84, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire activists and comedians alike. As Gregory once said, “The most difficult thing to get people to do is to accept the obvious.”

Born into poverty in St. Louis in 1932, Gregory overcame tremendous hardships and became one of the first Black comedians to find success with white audiences. His breakthrough came at Chicago’s Playboy Club in 1961, where he faced down racist hecklers with wit and grace, turning hostility into applause. As Gregory quipped, “I never learned hate at home, or shame. I had to go to school for that.” Furthermore, he famously joked, “Where else in the world but America could I have lived in the worst neighborhoods, attended the worst schools, ridden in the back of the bus, and get paid $5,000 a week just for talking about it?”

However, Gregory’s impact extended far beyond the stage. As the civil rights movement gained momentum, he seamlessly transitioned from comedian to activist, using his platform to spotlight racial injustice. Moreover, he marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., endured beatings and jail time, and ran for president in 1968 as the candidate of the Peace and Freedom Party, earning 200,000 votes.

Subsequently, Gregory’s activism evolved throughout his life. He embraced Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence, became a vegetarian and marathon runner, and championed health advocacy. Additionally, he conducted hunger strikes for various causes, ranging from Middle East peace to animal rights, demonstrating that personal transformation and social change are inextricably linked. As Gregory once said, “Poor is a state of mind you never grow out of, but being broke is just a temporary condition.”

Ultimately, his influence on future generations cannot be overstated. Gregory showed that comedy could challenge power structures while making people laugh. In addition, he demonstrated that entertainers have a responsibility to speak truth, paving the way for countless comedians who use humor to address social issues today.

Dick Gregory’s life reminds us that courage comes in many forms, and sometimes it emerges through a punchline that cuts to the heart of injustice.

1. Dick Gregory Quotes

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”Just being a Negro doesn’t qualify you to understand racism any more than being sick makes you an expert on medicine.”

2. “Turn Me Loose” Opening Night

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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 19: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was processed using digital filters) Comedian/civil rights activist Dick Gregory attends the after party following the opening night performance of “Turn Me Loose” held at 42 West on May 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)

3. Dick Gregory Quotes

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There’s a God force inside of you that gives you a will to live.

4. Comedian And Activist Dick Gregory

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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 2: Comedian and activist Dick Gregory speaks during a day-long symposium on poverty and hunger in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Boston University in Boston on Apr. 2, 1970. (Photo by Joe Dennehy/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

5. Dick Gregory Quotes

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“The most difficult thing to get people to do is to accept the obvious.

6. Comedian And Activist Dick Gregory

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PLYMOUTH, MA – APRIL 30: Comedian and activist Dick Gregory poses for a portrait in Plymouth, MA on Apr. 30, 1992. (Photo by Janet Knott/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

7. Dick Gregory Quotes

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I am really enjoying the new Martin Luther King Jr. stamp – just think about all those white bigots licking the back of it.

8. “Turn Me Loose” Opening Night

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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 19: Comedian/civil rights activist Dick Gregory speaks on stage following the opening night performance of “Turn Me Loose” held at The Westside Theatre on May 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)

9. Dick Gregory Quotes

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Poor is a state of mind you never grow out of, but being broke is just a temporary condition.

10. Dick Gregory Quotes

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Political promises are much like marriage vows. They are made at the beginning of the relationship between candidate and voter, but are quickly forgotten.

11. The National Action Network sponsors a “Justice for Trayvon” vigil

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WASHINGTON DC – JULY 20: Activist, Dick Gregory spoke at a “Justice for Trayvon” vigil, sponsored by The National Action Network in front of the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse on July 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mary F. Calvert, For The Washington Post via Getty Images )

12. Dick Gregory Quotes

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When you have a good mother and no father, God kind of sits in. It’s not enough, but it helps.

13. Dick Gregory

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American comedian, civil rights activist, social critic, and writer Dick Gregory (1932 – 2017), UK, 29th March 1965. (Photo by Harry Dempster/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

14. Dick Gregory Quotes

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I never learned hate at home, or shame. I had to go to school for that.

15. Dick Gregory

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American comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory (1932 – 2017) in Hawaii, 18th July 1964. (Photo by Vytas Valaitis/Pix/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

16. Dick Gregory Quotes

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Revolution ain’t nothing but an extent of evolution; it’s all about changing things.

17. Dick Gregory At MSU Press Conference

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View of American comedian and activist Dick Gregory (1932 – 2017) during a press conference in the Michigan State University auditorium, East Lansing, Michigan, October 6, 1968. (Photo by Douglas Elbinger/Getty Images)

18. Dick Gregory Quotes

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Hell hath no fury like a liberal scorned.

19. 1968 Democratic National Convention

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American comedian, actor and activist Dick Gregory (1932 – 2017) does an interview during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, August 1968. Gregory was a write in presidential candidate for the Freedom and Peace Party. (Photo by Donaldson Collection/Getty Images)

20. 1968 Democratic National Convention

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