Dick Gregory

Dick Gregory, born October 12,1932 as Richard Claxton Gregory in St. Louis, MO, was very involved in sports during his younger years--he was a excellent middle distant runner. He received an athletic scholarship in 1951, but left college and joined the us Army.

He began his professional career as a comic in 1958, performing first as a master of ceremonies in several Chicago nightclubs. From that meager beginning, he became known for his comedy, drawing large Black and White audiences for his comedy routine. He later abandoned comedy in the early 1970's to focus on political interests.

Gregory became political and even ran for the US Presidency as a Peace and Freedom Party candidate. This run for president gave him a platform to speak his views on a range of issues. He drew media attention and a cross over constituency of all races. Although he did not win, he established himself as a credible alternative voice of reason in the American political circles.

After his run for presidency, he became a popular political speaker at universities and other venues. His career has been an evolving one. From a track star in the university, he went into comedy. From that comedy he became a writer, writing From the Back of the Bus, 1962, and Nigger, 1964; in the book Nigger, a small chapter called Shame became very popular, even classic, in universities and anthologies. He moved from his career as a comic to a political career. After that career move, Gregory moved into nutritional health.  

As a nutritionist, Gregory's went public with his having been diagnosed with cancer, attempting to show the public that cancer is curable. For over 20-years now, Dick Gregory’s cancer has been in remission. And he has continued in his nutritional career.

Today, Gregory is respected as an elder statesman in the comedy world. Many comics attribute their style, their focus and their careers to Richard Claxton Gregory. Bill Cosby is a very close friend of Gregory’s and attributes his focus and education to him. 

In 1998, Gregory's friend, Ted Terry developed the Dick Gregory website-- www.dickgregory.com, which has now been redesigned and updated to include many of Gregory's books and record albums and other information. He has issue papers and white papers on many subjects that are considered controversial—from the death of Ron Brown, Backlash Grows Against White House Secrecy, etc. 

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* Mr. Kelley is a young black student and a basket ball player in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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