Dick Gregory’s death prompts flood of online tributes
The death of comedian and activist Dick Gregory at age 84 on Saturday prompted a flood of tributes on Twitter from celebrities, activists and others.
Jane Sanders recalled how her husband, Bernie Sanders, Democratic senator from Vermont and former presidential candidate, once spent a night in jail with Gregory after protesting segregation in Chicago .
RIP Dick Gregory, a good & brave man. He & @SenSanders spent the night in jail together for protesting Chicago segregated schools in the 60s https: //t.co/pYpMU34eOx
Democratic National Committee vice chairman Keith Ellison posted a photo of himself with Gregory. “Thank you for giving yourself to all of us, ” he wrote.
Dick Gregory, may God Bless you and Keep you. Thank you for giving yourself to all of us. pic.twitter.com/Z1dLIvYuBn
Activist and writer Shaun King posted pictures of Gregory as a young man. “Rest in power, good sir, ” King wrote.
Because many of you probably only knew Dick Gregory as an older man, I wanted to show you these young images.
Rest in power good sir. pic.twitter.com/ZayInokcaJ
Singer John Legend called Gregory a “groundbreaker in comedy and a voice for justice.”
Dick Gregory lived an amazing, revolutionary life. A groundbreaker in comedy and a voice for justice. RIP
A Twitter user with the handle @ElmaticLove also posted old photos of Gregory including of him with Muhammad Ali and Bob Marley.
Thank You Baba (Father) Dick Gregory for your tireless fight for freedom of the minds, bodies, spirits and soul pic.twitter.com/OpOsrJpdfQ
Some people posted excerpts from Gregory’s memoir, “Callous on My Soul, ” such as when he wrote about a waitress in the South telling him they “don’t serve colored people.”
White lady: We don’t serve colored people here.
Dick Gregory: I don’t eat colored people. Bring me a whole fried chicken.
RIP Mr. Gregory?? pic.twitter.com/t8dnuRJhBC
Here is a sample of some other tweets paying tribute to Gregory and lamenting his passing.
Comedian Dick Gregory always told it like it is. Our laughter was fuel to fight for justice in an unjust world. RIP 1932-2017 pic.twitter.com/wpbdEkvny1
Marching w/ King. Sitting w/ Ali. Paving the way for our comedic greats. All while fighting for us.
Rest well Dick Gregory. #blkcreatives pic.twitter.com/GsfRTjHSuy
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
Rest In Peace to civil rights icon Dick Gregory. An inspiration. A hero. ?? pic.twitter.com/kIzeYMNjor
