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Civil Rights Activist And Comedian Dick Gregory Dies At 84

Gregory used humor to address racial inequalities.
Posted at 11:26 AM, Aug 20, 2017

Civil rights activist and comedian Dick Gregory has died. He was 84 years old.

Gregory was known for using humor, particularly satire, to help bridge racial divides. He was a crossover comedian popular with black and white audiences during the 1960s, which was a rarity at the time. 

On integration he once said: “I sat in at a lunch counter for nine months. ... When they finally integrated, they didn't have what I wanted.”

He also once famously said: "We tried to integrate a restaurant, and they said, 'We don't serve colored folk here.' And I said, 'Well, I don't eat colored folk nowhere.'"

Gregory was a dedicated social activist. He attended the March on Washington during the civil rights movement and participated in integration protests and sit-ins.

Later in life, he spoke out on issues including police brutality, sexism and animal rights.

Gregory died Saturday in Washington, D.C.