Gregory’s passion for social justice started early in life and influenced him as a high schooler to lead a march in St. Louis that protested against segregated schools. This passion would later become an inspiration for much of his comedic material, where he used satire to speak out about racial injustice and prejudice. In the mid- 1950’s, Gregory, who was serving in the military at the time, started doing stand-up comedy and by 1956, he relocated to Chicago to pursue his comedic aspirations full-time. Recognized as the first Black American satirist, he joined the ranks of a new generation of up and coming Black comics such as, Nipsey Russell and Godfrey Cambridge. After being inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and SNCC, Gregory became involved in the Civil Rights Movement, and used his celebrity platform to fight against Black disenfranchisement and segregation. By the 1960’s, Gregory had dedicated a considerable amount of time advocating for a number of social causes. Today, he continues to be a champion for social change.
No comments:
Post a Comment