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Dick Gregory's Political Primer
A unique and timeless guide to American government and its electoral process—as relevant today as when it was first published in 1972—from the voice of black consciousness, cultural icon Dick Gregory, the incomparable satirist, human rights and environmental activist, health advocate, social justice champion, and author of the NAACP Image Award–winning Defining Moments in Black Reading Between the Lies and the classic bestseller An Autobiography.
For most of his life, Richard Claxton “Dick” Gregory worked to educate Americans about the issues—and the forces of power—shaping their lives. A brilliant and informed student of the American experiment, he viewed and understood politics with an acuity few possess. Nearly fifty years ago, on the eve of Richard M. Nixon’s reelection, he wrote a classic guide to the American political system for ordinary folks. Today, when American democracy is threatened, his primer is more necessary than ever before. In Dick Gregory’s Political Primer, Gregory presents a series of lessons accompanied by review questions to educate and empower every citizen. He provides amusing, concise, and clear information and commentary on the nature of political parties, the three branches of government and how they operate, how the campaign process works and the costs, and more. Gregory offers imaginative comparisons such as the Hueys—Long, the populist Louisiana governor and Newton, the cofounder of the Black Panthers—and numerological parallels between Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. He also includes a trenchant glossary that offers insights into some of the major players, terms, and institutions integral to our democracy and government. An essential guide to American history unlike any other, Dick Gregory’s Political Primer joins the ranks of classics such as Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States , and is essential reading for every American.
For most of his life, Richard Claxton “Dick” Gregory worked to educate Americans about the issues—and the forces of power—shaping their lives. A brilliant and informed student of the American experiment, he viewed and understood politics with an acuity few possess. Nearly fifty years ago, on the eve of Richard M. Nixon’s reelection, he wrote a classic guide to the American political system for ordinary folks. Today, when American democracy is threatened, his primer is more necessary than ever before. In Dick Gregory’s Political Primer, Gregory presents a series of lessons accompanied by review questions to educate and empower every citizen. He provides amusing, concise, and clear information and commentary on the nature of political parties, the three branches of government and how they operate, how the campaign process works and the costs, and more. Gregory offers imaginative comparisons such as the Hueys—Long, the populist Louisiana governor and Newton, the cofounder of the Black Panthers—and numerological parallels between Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. He also includes a trenchant glossary that offers insights into some of the major players, terms, and institutions integral to our democracy and government. An essential guide to American history unlike any other, Dick Gregory’s Political Primer joins the ranks of classics such as Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States , and is essential reading for every American.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 1972
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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 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 29, 2021
Dick Gregory was a comedian and civil rights activist, who ran as a write-in candidate in the US presidential election of 1968, as a member of the Peace and Freedom Party. He used comedy to speak Truth, poke fun at the political hypocrisy, and identify bigotry and racism in the US.
His combination of astute political thinking and comedy, heavily laden with irony, caused people – black and white – to think. Because it was "comedy," it slipped under the wire and provoked. We couldn't ignore or deny what he said.
Whenever the Communists want to take over a new country, they should first go in with a whole bunch of American newspapers. The Communist advance men should say, “Look. I know you don’t know much about our program. But just read what the Americans are saying about us. We’re for feeding hungry folks, women’s liberation, freedom and dignity and power for black folks and poor folks, Indian rights, and a whole lot of other things.” (p. 8)
Dick Gregory's Political Primer really was a political primer (something I hadn't really expected), rather than strictly humor. His book could be usefully used in class today to discuss political history, the founding of the United States, and constitutional law (referents would often be unclear to 18-year-olds, however). In talking about the vote: "If you were white, male, well-to-do, and free, you could expect to have some role in selecting your representatives, if you also, of course, kept the proper faith" (p. 36). His is a much more powerful statement than the equivalent, "Initially, the privilege of voting was limited to white landowners," which skips over the pieces that make us uncomfortable about our history. Gregory did not skip.
I especially enjoyed his review questions concluding his chapters:
Dick Gregory does not focus on personal storytelling – at least in this book – but his writing suggests that some kinds of humor can bridge the divide, perhaps especially that humor that recognizes shared goals and challenges the barriers to meeting those goals.
Video of Dick Gregory from 1967: https://www.facebook.com/BBCArchive/v... (1:49 min)
Video celebrating Dick Gregory's life in 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQpM5... (3:10 min)
His combination of astute political thinking and comedy, heavily laden with irony, caused people – black and white – to think. Because it was "comedy," it slipped under the wire and provoked. We couldn't ignore or deny what he said.
Whenever the Communists want to take over a new country, they should first go in with a whole bunch of American newspapers. The Communist advance men should say, “Look. I know you don’t know much about our program. But just read what the Americans are saying about us. We’re for feeding hungry folks, women’s liberation, freedom and dignity and power for black folks and poor folks, Indian rights, and a whole lot of other things.” (p. 8)
Dick Gregory's Political Primer really was a political primer (something I hadn't really expected), rather than strictly humor. His book could be usefully used in class today to discuss political history, the founding of the United States, and constitutional law (referents would often be unclear to 18-year-olds, however). In talking about the vote: "If you were white, male, well-to-do, and free, you could expect to have some role in selecting your representatives, if you also, of course, kept the proper faith" (p. 36). His is a much more powerful statement than the equivalent, "Initially, the privilege of voting was limited to white landowners," which skips over the pieces that make us uncomfortable about our history. Gregory did not skip.
I especially enjoyed his review questions concluding his chapters:
1. True or false?Or this one:
a. Woodrow Wilson promised to keep the United States out of World War I.
b. Franklin Roosevelt promised that American boys would not be sent to fight a foreign war.
c. Lyndon Johnson promised that American boys would not be sent nine or ten thousand miles to fight a war that Asian boys ought to be fighting.
d. Woodrow Wilson kept the United States out of World War I.
e. Franklin Roosevelt kept the United States out of World War II.
f. Lyndon Johnson kept American boys out of Southeast Asia.
Using this lesson as a guide, write an essay interpreting the familiar phrase “The price one must pay for freedom.”This week I read and have been thinking about this research article, Personal experiences bridge moral and political divides better than facts, which describes how we can talk across political divides. Kubin et al.'s article is somewhat depressing (facts are not as convincing as personal experience), although their article presents some silver linings: stories have been used to tear people apart, but stories can also bring people together ).
Dick Gregory does not focus on personal storytelling – at least in this book – but his writing suggests that some kinds of humor can bridge the divide, perhaps especially that humor that recognizes shared goals and challenges the barriers to meeting those goals.
Video of Dick Gregory from 1967: https://www.facebook.com/BBCArchive/v... (1:49 min)
Video celebrating Dick Gregory's life in 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQpM5... (3:10 min)
July 23, 2023
Written soon after Gregory's 1968 presidential run, this book is incredibly well-researched and informative, though its contents will likely be a mere refresher course for serious students of American history. Moreover, it's very specific to its period; lots of talk of Nixon, Vietnam, Bella Abzug, Jane Fonda, etc.
Still, Gregory's skill as a satirist comes through, as in this rather electrifying section about the protest tactic of blocking bridges, roads, etc.
A satirical glossary included in the back of book provides cutting social commentary in the style of Flaubert's The Dictionary of Accepted Ideas, such as when Gregory defines the term "crime in the streets" as "America's new way of saying nigger."
Still, Gregory's skill as a satirist comes through, as in this rather electrifying section about the protest tactic of blocking bridges, roads, etc.
A satirical glossary included in the back of book provides cutting social commentary in the style of Flaubert's The Dictionary of Accepted Ideas, such as when Gregory defines the term "crime in the streets" as "America's new way of saying nigger."
March 14, 2023
As an Elections Supervisor this was doooooooope!! I liked the 'reviews' at the end of the chapters, it kept you engaged. I always found the electoral process and the history of Elections very interesting. Learning which presidents supported and pushed which laws, bills, processes, wars, and so on, was another highlight. A few unneeded opinions sprinkled throughout the book but other than that it was a great read for me.
October 14, 2022
Started out really good, great insight into the national mood of 1971. I docked a star because of the junk science on food and then even astrology/numerology stuff in the last couple of chapters. Good read, though.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews