Laughter Heals All: The Life & Times of Dick Gregory

Written By Max Gibson

“Segregation is not all bad. Have you ever heard of a collision where the people in the back of the bus got hurt?”

Deconstructing the barriers of racism and injustice through wit and charisma, Dick Gregory rose to prominence in the 1960′s as one of America’s leading comedians. An activist since his childhood, Gregory’s contributions to society span beyond the stage, as his commitment to civil rights has helped shape the nations cultural landscape.

Perhaps it was his upbringing that founded Gregory’s passion for comedy and activism. As a youth, Gregory gravitated to the track field, becoming one of the premiere sprinters in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. Offering a means to escape his poverty stricken environment, track became Gregory’s primary focus, earning him a scholarship to Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1951.

Drafted to the U.S army in 1954, Gregory’s athletic career was cut short, although his entrance to the army would provide a new avenue for his creative prowess. Taking up comedy after receiving encouragement from his commanding officer, he began his career doing Army talent shows, where he would showcase his jokes amongst his fellow soldiers. Returning to Chicago following his years in service, his comedy evolved over the next three years while performing at various Chicago nightclubs.

In many ways, 1961 brought Gregory his big break. While performing at the black owned Roberts Show Bar, Playboy magnate Hugh Hefner happened upon Gregory’s routine, gravitating to the satirical tone of his comedy. As Hefner watched from the crowd, Gregory eased into his routine.

“Last time I was down South I walked into this restaurant and this white waitress came up to me and said, “We don’t serve colored people here.” I said, “That’s all right. I don’t eat colored people. Bring me a whole fried chicken.”

Soon after, Hefner was sold. Hiring Gregory to fill in for white comedian Irwin Corey, the initial gig evolved into a six week stint, that catapulted Gregory into mainstream media. Taking on numerous television appearances and features in Time Magazine, his career as a comedian blossomed overnight.

Considered a revolutionary for his ability to bring humor to the plight of racism during the height of the Civil Rights movement, Dick Gregory’s work took on a transcendent quality that allowed his work to reach audiences of all colors. While violence and injustice characterized much of the black experience in America at the time, he portrayed his experiences through a comedic lens. Developing a new form of comedy that viewed racism objectively, Gregory’s form of social commentary allowed his work to exist on a neutral plane. Allowing the audience to receive the artist’s work without prejudice, he became one of the first black comedians to perform before a predominantly white audience.

Situated amongst the likes of Bill Cosby and Nipsey Russell, Gregory and his contemporaries ushered in a new form of American comedy. A departure from the archaic traditions of the minstrel show, this new generation of black comedians offered insight and perspective on society. Turning societies stereotypes on their head, he utilized his ethnicity as a means to form an open dialogue about race and society. His groundbreaking work resulted in the release of his 1963 autobiography, Nigger which became a national bestseller, having sold over 10 million copies to date. When asked about the title of the book, Gregory claimed that the choice was both artistic and practical, stating, “Whenever you hear the word ‘Nigger,’ you’ll know they’re advertising my book.”

Following his career as a comedian, Gregory took on a more active roll in the civil rights movement. Calling for action against injustice, racism and the growing violence of the Vietnam War, his charisma as a comedian drew people to his message. Gregory’s influence was later solidified in 1968 when he ran for President of the United States. Earning a place among Richard Nixon’s main competitors list, he became one of the leading political figures in America. Losing out to Nixon in November, Gregory received considerable votes as a write in candidate for the Freedom & Peace Party. The experience inspired the book Write Me In, which detailed Gregory’s presidential campaign.

Taking on various social initiatives throughout the 70′s, Dick Gregory supported feminist activism as well as the international Anti-Apartheid movement. Founding his own health food company in the 1980′s, Gregory became a prominent figure in the health industry, advocating vegetarianism as well as a raw food diet. Using his influence to support his beliefs, Dick Gregory’s legacy was solidified as a comedian first, but more importantly as an activist.

In retrospect, much of Dick Gregory’s brilliance came from his ability to dissect the intricacies of race relations in America. Bringing what was considered taboo into public discourse through his comedy, Dick Gregory managed to win over audiences of all races, who were able to relate to the social dynamics he touched on. Compelling his audience to laugh about the things many would never talk about, Gregory’s magic lay in his ability to bring people together, allowing them to celebrate culture while appreciating their differences.