The iconic comedian and civil rights activist, Dick Gregory, died today, at home in Washington, D.C. He was 84. Here is the New York Times tribute, by Clyde Haberman. (Maggie’s father, BTW.) And the CNN story.
What stuck in my mind about Dick Gregory were the many hunger strikes he went on to protest bigotry.
I was so lucky to meet Mr. Gregory in 2008 at a local comedy club, where he was sharing a bill with Mort Sahl. I spoke to him after the show and tried, the best I could, to tell him how much I admired him. He gave me a hug.
I wrote my very first Daily Kos diary about it!
Rest in Peace.