Dick Gregory entertains and provokes ATS audience

Richard Claxton "Dick" Gregory, an internationally recognized American comedian, social activist, critic and writer, gave a humorous yet provocative presentation before his audience in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium (ATS) on Friday night, February 12. Mixing comedy with scathing social commentary, Dick Gregory's two hour presentation covered topics ranging from the cold war, racial prejudice and the energy industry. He also turned his lens upon the audience, saying: "Waiting on the bomb--you're crazy... they've whipped you down to think you're insignificant, nothing..." and "Recess is just about over for you." Attributing his energy as an entertainer and activist to "the God Force" that exists in all of us, Dick Gregory said that the way for the unenlightened to tap into their own God Force was to "Get off by yourself and be quiet. Just tune into yourself. You have a lot of power." He kept his frustration with social apathy in America humorous, making the following comment related to the Iranian hostage crisis: "When I get kidnapped, I don't want you to tie no yellow ribbons on no trees. I want you to come get me!"