Legendary American Comedian and Civil Rights activist Dick Gregory dies at 84
US comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory has died at the age of 84, his family has announced.
Gregory died at hospital in Washington DC after being admitted with an undisclosed illness.
The family shared the news of their "enormous sadness" in a post on social media on Saturday.
From
the 1960s Gregory mocked racism in his stand-up routines. He was among
the first US black comedian to perform regularly in front of white
audiences.
"It is with enormous sadness that the Gregory family
confirms that their father, comedic legend and civil rights activist Mr
Dick Gregory departed this earth tonight in Washington, DC," his son,
Christian, wrote on Instagram.
He
added that the family "appreciates the outpouring of support and love"
but requested that their privacy be respected "during this very
difficult time".
US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson paid tribute to Gregory on Twitter:
He taught us how to laugh. He taught us how to fight.He taught us how to live.Dick Gregory was committed to justice.I miss him already. #RIP pic.twitter.com/3CfpM2O17D— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) August 20, 2017
Gregory was a no-holds-barred comedian, delivering lines in his performances that were likely to raise eyebrows.
"A Southern liberal?" he once said, "that's a guy that'll lynch you from a low tree".
"Segregation
is not all bad," Gregory said on another occasion. "Have you ever heard
of a collision where the people in the back of the bus got hurt?"
Gregory
was also involved in a number of civil rights activities in the 1960s.
He campaigned against the Vietnam War and his protests often involved
hunger strikes.
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