From the Vault 571: Dick Gregory

This week on From the Vault we celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights activist, comedian, and former Pacifica Foundation board member Dick Gregory, who died on August 19th, 2017 at the age of 84.
Gregory used satire and cool humor as a force for civil rights in the 1960’s, and devoted his life to speaking out on social justice and health.   He became a cross-over entertainer who reached both black and white audiences, and, using humor, was able to generate deeper public understanding for America’s racist past.
On May 25th, 1963 Dick Gregory sat down with KPFA producer Ralph Gleason, and in an extraordinary conversation, explored the trials and tribulations of traveling to the South to help his people in the thick of the Civil Rights Movement.   We share excerpts of this conversation today.