Dick Gregory Quotes

A collection of quotes by Dick Gregory.

Dick Gregory was an American comedian, social activist, and writer, born on October 12, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri. He became prominent during the 1960s, using his sharp sense of humor to address social issues, particularly racial discrimination. His groundbreaking talent allowed him to cross racial barriers and perform in front of diverse audiences.

Gregory's humor was not confined to the stage; he became a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement, using his platform to advocate for racial equality and social justice. He participated in numerous protests and marches, including the historic Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. Gregory was exposed to injustice during his early years, which fueled his determination to fight for change.

Alongside his activism, Gregory also focused on writing and became the author of several books, including his influential autobiography "Nigger: An Autobiography" published in 1963. His writings often explored his personal experiences with racism, poverty, and inequality. Beyond his autobiography, Gregory authored books on topics such as dieting, conspiracy theories, and spirituality.

Until his passing on August 19, 2017, Dick Gregory remained engaged in social and political activism, using his comedic talent and intellectual insights to challenge and confront societal norms. He left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the struggle for civil rights, leaving behind a legacy that inspires and empowers others to continue fighting for equality.

We used to root for the Indians against the cavalry, because

We used to root for the Indians against the cavalry, because we didn't think it was fair in the history books that when the cavalry won it was a great victory, and when the Indians won it was a massacre.

Hell hath no fury like a liberal scorned.

Hell hath no fury like a liberal scorned.

And we love to dance, especially that new one called the Civ

And we love to dance, especially that new one called the Civil War Twist. The Northern part of you stands still while the Southern part tries to secede.

Political promises are much like marriage vows. They are mad

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

Marriage

My mother was the sweetest lady who ever lived on this plane

My mother was the sweetest lady who ever lived on this planet, but if you tried to tell her that Jesus wasn't a Christian, she would stomp you to death.

Death

You know, I always say white is not a colour, white is an at

You know, I always say white is not a colour, white is an attitude, and if you haven't got trillions of dollars in the bank that you don't need, you can't be white.

Attitude

I buy about $1,500 worth of papers every month. Not that I t

I buy about $1,500 worth of papers every month. Not that I trust them. I'm looking for the crack in the fabric.

Trust

When you have a good mother and no father, God kind of sits

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

God

It's cool to be healthy.

It's cool to be healthy.

Cool

In most places in the country, voting is looked upon as a ri

In most places in the country, voting is looked upon as a right and a duty, but in Chicago it's a sport.

Politics

People with high blood pressure, diabetes - those are condit

People with high blood pressure, diabetes - those are conditions brought about by life style. If you change the life style, those conditions will leave.

Change

When I first broke through, there was only NBC, CBS and ABC,

When I first broke through, there was only NBC, CBS and ABC, and they had news in the morning and in the evening - there wasn't no 24-hour news.

Morning

Civil Rights: What black folks are given in the U.S. on the

Civil Rights: What black folks are given in the U.S. on the installment plan, as in civil-rights bills. Not to be confused with human rights, which are the dignity, stature, humanity, respect, and freedom belonging to all people by right of their birth.

Rights

And we love to dance -- especially that new one called the C

And we love to dance -- especially that new one called the Civil War Twist. The Northern part of you stands still while the Southern part tries to secede.

Dance Dancing

Riches do not delight us so much with their possession, as t

Riches do not delight us so much with their possession, as torment us with their loss.

Wealth

Let me tell you, never before in the history of this planet

Let me tell you, never before in the history of this planet has anybody made the progress that African-Americans have made in a 30-year period, in spite of many black folks and white folks lying to one another.

History

Nature is not affected by finance. If someone offered you te

Nature is not affected by finance. If someone offered you ten thousand dollars to let them touch your eyeball without blinking, you would never collect the money. At the very last moment, Nature would force you to blink your eye. Nature will protect her own.

Money

I never learned hate at home, or shame. I had to go to schoo

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

Home

You hear entertainers all the time, saying, 'If I couldn't g

You hear entertainers all the time, saying, 'If I couldn't get paid for this, I'd do it for free.' When's the last time you ever heard a business person say, 'If I couldn't get paid for being chairman of British Petroleum, I'd do it for free'?

Business