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The Most Defining Moments in Black History According to Dick Gregory
With his trademark acerbic wit, incisive humor, and infectious paranoia, one of our foremost comedians and most politically engaged civil rights activists looks back at 100 key events from the complicated history of black America.
A friend of luminaries including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Medgar Evers, and the forebear of today’s popular black comics, including Larry Wilmore, W. Kamau Bell, Damon Young, and Trevor Noah, Dick Gregory has been a provocative and incisive cultural force for more than fifty years. As an entertainer, he has always kept it indisputably real about race issues in America, fearlessly lacing laughter with hard truths. As a leading activist against injustice, he marched at Selma during the Civil Rights movement, organized student rallies to protest the Vietnam War; sat in at rallies for Native American and feminist rights; fought apartheid in South Africa; and participated in hunger strikes in support of Black Lives Matter.
In this collection of thoughtful, provocative essays, Gregory charts the complex and often obscured history of the African American experience. In his unapologetically candid voice, he moves from African ancestry and surviving the Middle Passage to the creation of the Jheri Curl, the enjoyment of bacon and everything pig, the headline-making shootings of black men, and the Black Lives Matter movement. A captivating journey through time, The Most Defining Moments in Black History According to Dick Gregory explores historical movements such as The Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance, as well as cultural touchstones such as Sidney Poitier winning the Best Actor Oscar for Lilies in the Field and Billie Holiday releasing Strange Fruit.
An engaging look at black life that offers insightful commentary on the intricate history of the African American people, The Most Defining Moments in Black History According to Dick Gregory is an essential, no-holds-bar history lesson that will provoke, enlighten, and entertain.
A friend of luminaries including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Medgar Evers, and the forebear of today’s popular black comics, including Larry Wilmore, W. Kamau Bell, Damon Young, and Trevor Noah, Dick Gregory has been a provocative and incisive cultural force for more than fifty years. As an entertainer, he has always kept it indisputably real about race issues in America, fearlessly lacing laughter with hard truths. As a leading activist against injustice, he marched at Selma during the Civil Rights movement, organized student rallies to protest the Vietnam War; sat in at rallies for Native American and feminist rights; fought apartheid in South Africa; and participated in hunger strikes in support of Black Lives Matter.
In this collection of thoughtful, provocative essays, Gregory charts the complex and often obscured history of the African American experience. In his unapologetically candid voice, he moves from African ancestry and surviving the Middle Passage to the creation of the Jheri Curl, the enjoyment of bacon and everything pig, the headline-making shootings of black men, and the Black Lives Matter movement. A captivating journey through time, The Most Defining Moments in Black History According to Dick Gregory explores historical movements such as The Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance, as well as cultural touchstones such as Sidney Poitier winning the Best Actor Oscar for Lilies in the Field and Billie Holiday releasing Strange Fruit.
An engaging look at black life that offers insightful commentary on the intricate history of the African American people, The Most Defining Moments in Black History According to Dick Gregory is an essential, no-holds-bar history lesson that will provoke, enlighten, and entertain.
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First published September 5, 2017
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About the author
Dick Gregory
35 books348 followersRichard "Dick" Gregory was an American civil rights activist, social critic, writer, entrepreneur, comedian, motivational speaker, author and actor. He became the first black comedian to successfully cross over to white audiences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
November 12, 2017
This was Dick Gregory's last book that he wrote. It came out a few weeks after he passed away. I would consider this to be his parting gift to his fans. I would not read this book if you are unfamiliar with who Gregory is and his way of telling the "truth". Reading this book was like reading your crazy uncle's account of history. A lot of his stories are based on actual history but then he loses me with his conspiracy theories, but that is what he was famous for. If you have a good foundation on black history then by all means read the book. You should probably read another book first before you read this one if you don't.
July 23, 2017
If you have ever seen, heard or read Dick Gregory then you already know he will bring some information that you probably were unaware of, or at the very least he will provide a different angle to things you may be familiar with. And that is mostly what he does here in this book, takes us on a sojourn through the time African-Americans have spent here on these shores through the examination of prominent personalities and significant events. And what gives his account merit, as he states "Part of my unique perspective was having been there."
Dick Gregory’s acerbic wit and razor sharp insight are deftly displayed throughout the text, along with his trademark conspiratorial edge. Dick Gregory describes the problem of African-Americans as the lack of appreciation we place on ourselves and subsequently each other. He posits that valuelessness accounts for many of the challenges currently competing for attention. "If Black people believed in ourselves, and not what people say about us, we would be leading the discussion on race relations rather than reacting to it."On a myriad of subjects, Dick Gregory is trying to give you an insiders view, helping readers to see some things they may have missed or giving you a view that may help you understand events or the personalities involved differently. On the Buffalo Soldiers that many hold in high esteem:
"Buffalo Soldiers were black Soldiers the U.S. government organized in the 19th century right after slavery ended. You know the people they fought against half the time? American Indians. Now think about that."
Over the course of five chapters he opines on everything from the middle passage right up to Black lives matter, not in a strict chronological line. It's almost like you're sitting with Dick Gregory having a conversation with him on any subject you may think to throw out. It is that conversational style that makes this book a stand-out, along with some of what may turn out to be controversial statements. The writing is always interesting and readers will enjoy the unconventional looks at events that the public is seemingly well-versed in. Thanks to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for providing an advanced ebook copy. Book publishes on Sept. 19, 2017.
Dick Gregory’s acerbic wit and razor sharp insight are deftly displayed throughout the text, along with his trademark conspiratorial edge. Dick Gregory describes the problem of African-Americans as the lack of appreciation we place on ourselves and subsequently each other. He posits that valuelessness accounts for many of the challenges currently competing for attention. "If Black people believed in ourselves, and not what people say about us, we would be leading the discussion on race relations rather than reacting to it."On a myriad of subjects, Dick Gregory is trying to give you an insiders view, helping readers to see some things they may have missed or giving you a view that may help you understand events or the personalities involved differently. On the Buffalo Soldiers that many hold in high esteem:
"Buffalo Soldiers were black Soldiers the U.S. government organized in the 19th century right after slavery ended. You know the people they fought against half the time? American Indians. Now think about that."
Over the course of five chapters he opines on everything from the middle passage right up to Black lives matter, not in a strict chronological line. It's almost like you're sitting with Dick Gregory having a conversation with him on any subject you may think to throw out. It is that conversational style that makes this book a stand-out, along with some of what may turn out to be controversial statements. The writing is always interesting and readers will enjoy the unconventional looks at events that the public is seemingly well-versed in. Thanks to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for providing an advanced ebook copy. Book publishes on Sept. 19, 2017.
April 15, 2020
Interesting telling of African American history by a very good storyteller. I liked Gregory's point of view and the way he highlighted that whiteness is a social construct rather than a skin colour. Maybe as a person with white skin, I need to hear that lately, since the racism debate has become so heated that some people of colour blame all white people for a system of oppression when some of us want to dismantle that system just as badly. My only hesitation is when Gregory advances his personal theories about what he deems to have been conspiracies to silence prominent black figures, from Malcolm X to Tiger Woods. Much of what he advances is entirely believable, but when he started defending Michael Jackson, I understood his personal relationships with people he describes get in the way of objectivity. All the same, recommended to revisit some defining historical moments from the perspective of someone who was fighting for civil rights for decades.
November 27, 2018
The Most Defining Moments in Black History According to Dick Gregory by Dick Gregory
(Nonfiction/Humor = 3.5/5 ⭐️)
Dick Gregory was known for his comedic political commentary and his last book was no different. He is like that old uncle who comes to family gatherings and knows everything about everything. Always entertaining and thought provoking, but you walk away wondering how much of you just heard is actually true.
(Nonfiction/Humor = 3.5/5 ⭐️)
Dick Gregory was known for his comedic political commentary and his last book was no different. He is like that old uncle who comes to family gatherings and knows everything about everything. Always entertaining and thought provoking, but you walk away wondering how much of you just heard is actually true.
June 17, 2018
What happens when you take a spoonful of comedy, a dose of conspiracy theory, and heaping of African American history? Well, you get Dick Gregory's Defining Moments in Black History.
Another reviewer hit the nail on the head. Gregory is like the crazy uncle who loves to tell stories. He mixes truth with a little bit of crazy and a whole lot of comedy.
The challenge with this book is that, I believe, some of the valuable insights are lost because of the conspiracy theory stuff. It's hard to take seriously. Sometimes, unless you really know your history, it's difficult to discern what is a joke, what is part of the conspiracy twirling about in Gregory's head, and what is good and true. Unfortunately, I believe in the end it takes away some of the value of the book.
On the other hand, maybe Gregory is smarter then we give him credit for. History has clearly been whitewashed and this is his attempt at painting history with darker brush strokes. Maybe, just maybe, that's his point. History has been written by the majority. And it is shaped and molded by that majority. When Gregory walks through African American history he colors it through his own lens. I tend to believe that he is seeking to attack that whitewashing by giving us a comedic-conspiracy laden Black History. Could he be saying something along these lines: "well, you have whitewashed history and your interpretation of it is a bit crazy. So here I am going to do the same thing with Black history. And I'm gonna do it to prove my point: that you have whitewashed history." If such is the case, then Gregory is actually rather brilliant.
Regardless of Gregory's intent, Defining Moments is most certainly NOT a dull read. My only suggestion - as has been the suggestion of others - is to not read it alone. Maybe Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s Life Upon These Shores.
Another reviewer hit the nail on the head. Gregory is like the crazy uncle who loves to tell stories. He mixes truth with a little bit of crazy and a whole lot of comedy.
The challenge with this book is that, I believe, some of the valuable insights are lost because of the conspiracy theory stuff. It's hard to take seriously. Sometimes, unless you really know your history, it's difficult to discern what is a joke, what is part of the conspiracy twirling about in Gregory's head, and what is good and true. Unfortunately, I believe in the end it takes away some of the value of the book.
On the other hand, maybe Gregory is smarter then we give him credit for. History has clearly been whitewashed and this is his attempt at painting history with darker brush strokes. Maybe, just maybe, that's his point. History has been written by the majority. And it is shaped and molded by that majority. When Gregory walks through African American history he colors it through his own lens. I tend to believe that he is seeking to attack that whitewashing by giving us a comedic-conspiracy laden Black History. Could he be saying something along these lines: "well, you have whitewashed history and your interpretation of it is a bit crazy. So here I am going to do the same thing with Black history. And I'm gonna do it to prove my point: that you have whitewashed history." If such is the case, then Gregory is actually rather brilliant.
Regardless of Gregory's intent, Defining Moments is most certainly NOT a dull read. My only suggestion - as has been the suggestion of others - is to not read it alone. Maybe Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s Life Upon These Shores.
December 15, 2017
It's like if you had a hilarious, smart, and a little nutty grandpa who happens to know everyone tell you American history. The nutty part has to do with the conspiracy theories (like Bill Cosby was framed by the Feds, etc.) But Gregory was friends with MLK and Malcolm X and Medgar Evans so it's not surprising that he would see conspiracy in everything. It was hilarious and enjoyable
February 5, 2021
"So this word 'nigger' was one of the most well-used words in America, particularly among black folks. And I said, `Well, let's pull it out the closet. Let's lay it out here. Let's deal with it. Let's dissect it.' Now the problem I have today is people call it the N-word. It should never be called the N-word. You see, how do you talk about a swastika by using another term?"
He uses other ways to address the same topic, and I'd never thought of it that way. His explanation definitely fits why I feel that it's so dirty, and why I'm unable to use it in any way despite being black, myself (in any context).
"We tried to integrate a restaurant, and they said, `We don't serve colored folk here,' and I said, `Well, I don't eat colored folk nowhere. Bring me some pork chops.' And then Ku Klux Klan come in, and the woman say, `We don't have no pork chops,' so I say, `Well, bring me a whole fried chicken.' And then the Klan walked up to me when they put that whole fried chicken in front of me, and they say, `Whatever you do to that chicken, boy, we're going to do to you.' So I opened up its legs and kissed it in the rump and tell you all, `Be my guest.' "
His comedy was pure genius and it shows through in his writing.
He uses other ways to address the same topic, and I'd never thought of it that way. His explanation definitely fits why I feel that it's so dirty, and why I'm unable to use it in any way despite being black, myself (in any context).
"We tried to integrate a restaurant, and they said, `We don't serve colored folk here,' and I said, `Well, I don't eat colored folk nowhere. Bring me some pork chops.' And then Ku Klux Klan come in, and the woman say, `We don't have no pork chops,' so I say, `Well, bring me a whole fried chicken.' And then the Klan walked up to me when they put that whole fried chicken in front of me, and they say, `Whatever you do to that chicken, boy, we're going to do to you.' So I opened up its legs and kissed it in the rump and tell you all, `Be my guest.' "
His comedy was pure genius and it shows through in his writing.
August 11, 2022
I’m 75 years old and I’m pretty sure that Dick Gregory used to be a comedian. And then I vaguely remember that at some point he started becoming a social activist and an outspoken social activist at that. This 2017 audible book really has to be an audible book. I can’t imagine reading this in print because this is a book with a guy who happens to be Dick Gregory talking to you about a whole bunch of things including black history and all of the people he has known And all of his conspiracy theories as they are sometimes referred to and especially about white racism. I thought it was a marvelous book to listen to and although Dick really didn’t share any historic events that I was not already aware of, he has a perspective that is very individual and personal and based on his own individual experience. he talks about Black people you have heard about and he apparently has known quite a few of them at least a little bit personally. He does not always swallow the media stories about Michael Jackson or about Muhammad Ali or about quite a few other famous people. I don’t think he tells even one joke in this book but he does tell a lot of fascinating stories and even when you know that they might be somewhat questionable, you have to acknowledge at the end that you have learned some thing and that dick Gregory has generated some feelings for you that might be new and important in understanding the world of Black people in the United States.
August 26, 2019
An enlightening and entertaining memoir which provides eye-witness accounts and/or personal framing of important people and key events in American history. The book has a particular focus on African-American and black American contributions and challenges to American history. The author’s thought-provoking narrative makes plain the experiences of black Americans and African Americans within the racist structures of American society.
May 1, 2018
Wow🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Well known Activist, Comedian, Social Justice Advocator, and if you don’t know Conspiracy Theorist......I will just say a must read if you would care to pretake in some truth serum😉. I want to say more but Imma stop here 🤐because I don’t like doing spoilers but I just want to say more🤣
July 17, 2023
Damn....Dick Gregory and my grandmother could have been best friends...
March 28, 2018
I loved how this book was written. It really reads like you're sitting at your grandfather's feet learning about history. Gregory definitely points some things out that make you want to dig deeper and learn more.
March 10, 2018
What a beautiful book full of AMERICAN HISTORY 💚💚💚. I enjoyed it, I learned so much and enjoyed every minute of this read. Top shelf definitely!!
September 30, 2022
I loved the majority of this book. That said, this was a hard book to get through. It's awful to think of what this country has done to people of color, either through hatred, greed, apathy, or just plain ignorance. In his informal, engaging way, Gregory was a great teacher. I loved his perspective and even when I was having a hard time listening, he kept it interesting.
But...
I get that there is a perspective here. But just because a POC entertainer is wealthy and Gregory's friend doesn't also mean they can't be predators. His defense of Bill Cosby (something along the lines of "I don't know what happened here... but here's why it was all made up by white supremacists to take him down") particularly made me put the book down for some time, only to have it followed closely by his blind advocacy of Michael Jackson and later, Tiger Woods (whose main "crime" was cheating on his wife with a loooot of women, but it still really brought down his career). There are stories every day about sexual predators whose nearest and dearest had no idea what they really were, and anyone of any skin tone can hurt other people (and let's be honest here) especially when that person has money. I don't claim to know what really happened, but at the end of the day, I'm not sure Gregory could either, despite being closer to the men in question, particularly Jackson. The way the book blindly charges into "it was a conspiracy" while blah-blah-ing over a lot of evidence makes the book seem more like an op-ed. If you want to say taking down Cosby or Michael Jackson or Tiger Woods was a white supremacist conspiracy, fine, I'm there, people in power tend to suck and I can get on board -- but I need details in order for it to work. And I get it, this wasn't that kind of book.
My only other issue was that I wish Gregory had listed sources -- something I normally couldn't care less about, admittedly. Not so much because I want to fact check him, but because I want to learn more. As an example, one of the stories he told was about the 14 year old boy that froze to death while watching the horses for George Washington. He stated that the kid was a tactician for Washington. I'd like to know more about that, but when I started looking into it, all I could find were articles indicating the kid was the son of a man who worked for Washington and the story was probably apocryphal anyway. I also couldn't find anyone other than Gregory who mentioned the boy being a sort of wunderkind tactician. A source would have given me a place to start that could have told me more about that story instead of directing me to the places Gregory already warned the reader would disregard it.
All that said, I'm glad I picked this one up at the book store (and on Audible). It's an important book for everyone to read (mostly because a lot of the historical figures are not talked about in great enough detail in school). It gave me a good place to start when it came to a lot of Black history. I do wish it had focused more on historical figures and less on entertainers though -- but then again, I can see where the argument is that there isn't much difference between those two categories. This book also convinced me to pick up more books by Gregory, which is always a good sign.
But...
I get that there is a perspective here. But just because a POC entertainer is wealthy and Gregory's friend doesn't also mean they can't be predators. His defense of Bill Cosby (something along the lines of "I don't know what happened here... but here's why it was all made up by white supremacists to take him down") particularly made me put the book down for some time, only to have it followed closely by his blind advocacy of Michael Jackson and later, Tiger Woods (whose main "crime" was cheating on his wife with a loooot of women, but it still really brought down his career). There are stories every day about sexual predators whose nearest and dearest had no idea what they really were, and anyone of any skin tone can hurt other people (and let's be honest here) especially when that person has money. I don't claim to know what really happened, but at the end of the day, I'm not sure Gregory could either, despite being closer to the men in question, particularly Jackson. The way the book blindly charges into "it was a conspiracy" while blah-blah-ing over a lot of evidence makes the book seem more like an op-ed. If you want to say taking down Cosby or Michael Jackson or Tiger Woods was a white supremacist conspiracy, fine, I'm there, people in power tend to suck and I can get on board -- but I need details in order for it to work. And I get it, this wasn't that kind of book.
My only other issue was that I wish Gregory had listed sources -- something I normally couldn't care less about, admittedly. Not so much because I want to fact check him, but because I want to learn more. As an example, one of the stories he told was about the 14 year old boy that froze to death while watching the horses for George Washington. He stated that the kid was a tactician for Washington. I'd like to know more about that, but when I started looking into it, all I could find were articles indicating the kid was the son of a man who worked for Washington and the story was probably apocryphal anyway. I also couldn't find anyone other than Gregory who mentioned the boy being a sort of wunderkind tactician. A source would have given me a place to start that could have told me more about that story instead of directing me to the places Gregory already warned the reader would disregard it.
All that said, I'm glad I picked this one up at the book store (and on Audible). It's an important book for everyone to read (mostly because a lot of the historical figures are not talked about in great enough detail in school). It gave me a good place to start when it came to a lot of Black history. I do wish it had focused more on historical figures and less on entertainers though -- but then again, I can see where the argument is that there isn't much difference between those two categories. This book also convinced me to pick up more books by Gregory, which is always a good sign.
February 25, 2018
Dick my man... You are too funny. But why you in everybody business though? Did you know all the black entertainers and leaders going back to the 1930's?
Dick was spilling the tea on err'body. Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, he was supposed to be with Medgar Evers when he got shot but got a phone call, he got the real scoop on who and how MLK was killed... Listen, this dude has been around the block, yet this is the first time I'm hearing about him. I need to get out more.
The book is a walk through history. It's a walk through black American history but isn't that really just American history? I think that's his point. It was engaging, fun and funny and I learned more than a little bit. I recommend it to everyone. I got a couple people in mind who I think I might strongly suggest it to.
Dick was spilling the tea on err'body. Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, he was supposed to be with Medgar Evers when he got shot but got a phone call, he got the real scoop on who and how MLK was killed... Listen, this dude has been around the block, yet this is the first time I'm hearing about him. I need to get out more.
The book is a walk through history. It's a walk through black American history but isn't that really just American history? I think that's his point. It was engaging, fun and funny and I learned more than a little bit. I recommend it to everyone. I got a couple people in mind who I think I might strongly suggest it to.
February 20, 2021
I have major doubts about many of Mr. Gregory's facts and conspiracy theories, but I enjoyed his take on major moments and politicians.
His writing, which comes across as dictated almost stream-of-consciousness, is random and repetitive, yet it conveys some of the humor that made him a popular stand-up comedian. And, as he notes, he knew many civil rights leaders and political leaders. This gives him a personal take on them that few authors can offer.
His writing, which comes across as dictated almost stream-of-consciousness, is random and repetitive, yet it conveys some of the humor that made him a popular stand-up comedian. And, as he notes, he knew many civil rights leaders and political leaders. This gives him a personal take on them that few authors can offer.
November 30, 2017
Conspiracies aside, this was an informative and VERY entertaining book. But as someone else mentioned, you probably want to read another book about black history ahead of this and maybe a little about Gregory first. I liked it (would have given 4 stars had it less conspiracy) and I'm looking forward to reading his autobiography.
November 20, 2017
This was quite entertaining, which is not at all surprising. Dick Gregory was one of the great comedians of his era. I saw him once, at UC Irvine. It reads as though he spoke into a tape recorder, and it was transcribed. He knew just about everyone in the Civil Rights campaign. That part I completely believe. Where I do start to disagree with Dick Gregory was when he gave conspiracy theories. Not that I'm surprised he believed them, considering that the FBI was spying on Martin Luther King and trying to blackmail him. The problem with a lot of conspiracy theories is that they fail Occam's Razor. They get unduly complicated. The book also started to drag slightly when he started going through just about every famous Black person in American history. One I found fascinating was this black guy, Frank Wills, who had been a security guard at the Washington DC hotel, the Watergate. He is the one who discovered a door that had been taped to stay open, removed the tape, then called the cops when he found it taped up again. (Gregory later hired him when he discovered he was down on his luck.) Once the cops got there, one thing led to another and far too many dreary months later, Richard Nixon was resigning to avoid impeachment.
Honestly, a lot of the most interesting parts were almost afterthoughts, where he mentioned his family. He called his wife, Lill, the real Dick Gregory, and clearly was crazy about her. He also mentions one son a few times, Christian Gregory. I would love to read one of his more autobiographical books. Dick Gregory died August of this year, 2017, 84 years old.
Addendum: This book marks the achievement of my reading goal for 2017: 150 books!
Honestly, a lot of the most interesting parts were almost afterthoughts, where he mentioned his family. He called his wife, Lill, the real Dick Gregory, and clearly was crazy about her. He also mentions one son a few times, Christian Gregory. I would love to read one of his more autobiographical books. Dick Gregory died August of this year, 2017, 84 years old.
Addendum: This book marks the achievement of my reading goal for 2017: 150 books!
June 22, 2020
4.5/5
Defining Moments in Black History--and Dick Gregory--should be required reading.
Defining Moments in Black History
August 11, 2020
This was the best book I have listened to about the truth behind so many people. You want to know what really happened to Michael Jackson? Why Bill Cosby is really in jail, and all about Tiger Woods. It was what the "Establishment" has on each one of them. Malcom, Rosa, Maya, Richard, Stevie, and Marvin .. Dick Gregory knew them all. KNEW them spoke to them and with Michael Jackson one of the only people he would allow to see him. Ask yourself why things that White folks do and get away with it, and Black folks that do always get the sentence. Ask Bill, because his buddy Dave did just what he is in jail for, there was something else behind it.
Dick Gregory was there.... this blew my mind. Malt Liquor cant be found in stores in White Neighborhoods. Think about it and look for it the next time you go to Safeway or Pavilions.
Don't be afraid of how he talks about White Supremacy either, because when you finish this book you will see how systemic culture in our nation is still going on. It may never be stopped when you see how integrated it is to MONEY. They say the only color that matters is Green, that is not completely true.
Dick Gregory was there.... this blew my mind. Malt Liquor cant be found in stores in White Neighborhoods. Think about it and look for it the next time you go to Safeway or Pavilions.
Don't be afraid of how he talks about White Supremacy either, because when you finish this book you will see how systemic culture in our nation is still going on. It may never be stopped when you see how integrated it is to MONEY. They say the only color that matters is Green, that is not completely true.
March 23, 2018
Mr. Gregory's last book hits directly to the point of why black Americans must be cognizant of their history. For who better to tell the story than the persons directly affected by it.
November 18, 2018
Eye opening. He was there. It's one thing to read about and study history, but to live it is another thing. Thank you!
July 26, 2018
This book was a humorous and enlightening overview of American history. Dick Gregory has many good points about politics and brings up a number of historical figures and events that have traditionally been overlooked or have many misconceptions associated with them. He talks a lot about suspicious deaths of important Black Americans, and there is actually some suspicion about Dick Gregory's death now that he has passed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZewJr...
It's amazing how many prominent people Dick Gregory knew, and how many of them he spoke to on the day of their death - it's a little spooky, actually.
I really appreciated his analysis of Trump's presidency and the way he points out white supremacy's impacts on everything. At times he was a little pessimistic and he did seem to blame certain things (like blues music) for the way people act, which I didn't really buy. Some topics he included but didn't say hardly anything about them - such as Angela Davis, who only got a paragraph and it wasn't even about her, but about the guns that were linked to her.
Overall it was a great book for anyone to get a quick overview of history, particularly African American history, but doesn't want the mainstream oversimplified "white" version. This version is still oversimplified but it's a great intro and it does have an alternative perspective from someone who actually knew a lot of the people he talks about.
It's amazing how many prominent people Dick Gregory knew, and how many of them he spoke to on the day of their death - it's a little spooky, actually.
I really appreciated his analysis of Trump's presidency and the way he points out white supremacy's impacts on everything. At times he was a little pessimistic and he did seem to blame certain things (like blues music) for the way people act, which I didn't really buy. Some topics he included but didn't say hardly anything about them - such as Angela Davis, who only got a paragraph and it wasn't even about her, but about the guns that were linked to her.
Overall it was a great book for anyone to get a quick overview of history, particularly African American history, but doesn't want the mainstream oversimplified "white" version. This version is still oversimplified but it's a great intro and it does have an alternative perspective from someone who actually knew a lot of the people he talks about.
April 1, 2018
I know about Dick Gregory and many of his accomplishments and contributions but this is the first book I've read by him and I wasn't disappointed. He talked about a multitude of things in this book and it should read like a jumbled mess but he makes it work. He talked about black unification, great leaders and their contributions as well as their vices, athletes, government conspiracies, civil rights movement, music legends and who influenced them, etc. Some things he mentioned in this book felt like a reach though. I listened to the audio book (shoutout to James Shippey he was excellent) but I need to get the book so I can highlight half this book. This is one of those books that will have you adding a stack of books to your TBR to read and research all the topics he talked about.
July 30, 2022
I really enjoyed this book for the most part. Dick Gregory's conversational way of writing really engages the reader. The bite sized history lessons on the heroes of Black history feel more like folk stories you might listen to your grandfather tell. The only part that lost some points for me was the section on Michael Jackson in which he puts forth what seems a conspiracy theory on the superstar's death. For me it marred what until that point in the book had been a very well written homage to the outstanding figures in our history.
February 23, 2019
This book is mostly all the black history anecdotes we are used to hearing this time of year. Because they are told by Dick Gregory they are funny and entertaining and not sanitized to preserve the feelings of fragile whites. There are some batshit crazy conspiracy theories in here, as well as some less crazy, more probable ones. The editor would have done Gregory's legacy a big favor by removing the stuff about Michael Jackson and Bill Cosby.
August 27, 2023
**1.5/5
(1) I’ve never read a history book without it citations or a reference/work cited page at the end.
(2) This felt too “self brag session about how close I was with X person” for my liking.
(3) I don’t like how he talked about women - especially as a self-proclaimed feminist.
(4) He referred to Asian people as “yellow” MULTIPLE times.
(1) I’ve never read a history book without it citations or a reference/work cited page at the end.
(2) This felt too “self brag session about how close I was with X person” for my liking.
(3) I don’t like how he talked about women - especially as a self-proclaimed feminist.
(4) He referred to Asian people as “yellow” MULTIPLE times.
November 1, 2018
Dick Gregory's take on history had two major benefits: this was the perfect platform for his witty approach to almost anything. While this work was entertaining, it also took a critical look at the lies and myths embedded in American history -- at least the way it is presented in secondary and collegiate textbooks.
August 7, 2021
Very interesting and funny. It’s like you’re sitting down in a room with him speaking. There were a few things he said in the book that sounded like a conspiracy but outside of that I really enjoyed reading. Dick Gregory is never boring.
September 18, 2023
It bothered me early on when the author/narrator mentioned something I wasn’t sure was correct…. A quick internet search proved it was, in fact, incorrect and disproven years before the book was published.
That was enough to make me take any “facts” presented with a grain of salt.
I did like hearing the author’s personal stories and perspective, even those times I wasn’t certain I agreed with them.
That was enough to make me take any “facts” presented with a grain of salt.
I did like hearing the author’s personal stories and perspective, even those times I wasn’t certain I agreed with them.
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