Email Article

Printable Page

Dick Gregory a Hit on Topics from Katrina to "N" Word

Photo credit: K. Cummings/The Meter Activist Dick Gregory told a Tennessee State University audience that all but one of his 10 children attended a historically black college.

By Marshall A. Latimore
Black College Wire

When Demetria Griffin, a senior chemistry major at Tennessee State University, heard that Dick Gregory was coming to speak at the Nashville school, she knew she couldn't miss the chance to see him.

"I'm glad I missed class to hear him speak," said Griffin, of Lithonia, Ga. "He was informative and I'm glad he didn't give a stereotypical speech. What he had to say will speak life into people's existence long after this speech today."

Griffin and nearly 500 students, faculty, staff, administrators and members of the public came to hear the noted comedian and civil rights activist on Feb. 21.

Gregory, father of 10 and 47-year husband of Lillian Gregory, has seen much in his 73 years. He said all but one of his children attended historically black colleges, and he would not have had it any other way.

"Against my better judgment, I let my oldest daughter attend a white school," Gregory said with a chuckle. "And I can't stand her. If she didn't have two doctorates, we would have committed her to a mental institution a long time ago."

In similar jest, Gregory spoke on topics ranging from the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina to the war in Iraq to common sense advice on raising kids and how to treat people.

"The word 'katrina' is a Russian word that means cleansing," Gregory said. "It was a wake-up call for everyone. Yes, some black people lost out, but if I have roller skates and you have a Rolls-Royce and someone steals them both, who's really losing the most when I'm already near walking?

"The same God that created Hitler created Jews, just like the same God that created slave masters created slaves. I dare you to have compassion for one group and not have compassion for the other. They're all God's children."

Gregory offered his take on the use of "nigger," a long-disputed term in the African American community and the title of his 1964 autobiography.

"If the word 'nigger' bothers you, then you're a 'nigger,'" Gregory said. "If the Germans suddenly changed the word 'concentration camp' to the 'c-word' or the word 'swastika' to the 's-word,' do you think the Jews will allow that to happen? Of course they wouldn't, because it would be changing history. The word 'nigger' will always be a part of our history and it's not going anywhere, as it should be."

Michael Moore, a senior who double majors in electrical engineering and mathematics, said he was "ecstatic" after Gregory said that. "I was one who got offended when my brothers would call me one, but now I feel as I can ignore them just as if they called me Malcolm or Matthew," said Moore, an Atlanta native. "I know that my name is Michael. It made me think of the phrase 'if the shoe fits, wear it.' Now I know better."

Gregory marched beside civil rights legends Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, and urged audience members to familiarize themselves with the civil rights movement in its entirety.

"You have to know Coretta, you have to know King," but you also have to "know what the movement was about," Gregory said. "We had a good life, the greatest movement in history. That day that King died, the lights went out in people's minds. When Lyndon Johnson signed the civil rights bill, we freed everyone."

A prominent member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Gregory also addressed Greek-letter fraternities and sororities, challenging them to improve their initiation processes.

"The Mafia is one of the most powerful organizations in the world and they don't have a ridiculous intake process," Gregory said. "If hurt and pain is qualification for joining your organization, then I'm more than qualified – America took care of that. Besides, I'm a part of an organization older than General Motors and we do not have a fraction of GM's power."

Gregory's words seemed to have a profound effect. Many stayed after the lecture to hear what some likened to the charismatic voice of a father or grandfather.

Gregory "did an exemplary job of connecting humor with a serious message," said Dorothy Lockridge, interim vice president of student affairs. "He challenged us to think, to see beyond the crafty camouflaged message that the powers-that-be would have us believe."

Gregory left his audience, consisting mostly of college students, with this: "Since the day you were born, the universal God gave you all the intelligence you need."

Marshall A. Latimore, a student at Tennessee State University, writes for the Meter.

Posted Feb. 26, 2006