Article "Attacks 'White Inconsistencies': Dick Gregory Labels Youth Audience 'The New American Nigger, Indian'"

Article "Attacks 'White Inconsistencies': Dick Gregory Labels Youth Audience 'The New American Nigger, Indian'"

This Collegian article summarizes the main points of Dick Gregory's lecture on campus in 1970. Dick Gregory was a black comedian, author, actor, activist, and civil rights leader. His speech was attended by a crowd of about 800, mainly consisting of students. Gregory states that the duty of young people is to "get blamed for everything" as they are the "new American nigger" and "Indian," however, he asserts that the young people are key to solving "this country's problems." Gregory goes on to elaborate that minorities are scapegoats that are blamed for all of the country's problems. He points out racism in the United States as "beautiful people" such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are being wiped out while others are ignored by the police. He states that this racism has trickled down to the black youth. He gives an example of a five-year-old black boy who, when asked to draw himself, draws a picture of an animal—Gregory views this is a result of black people being stereotyped as wrongdoers while those in policy-making positions are white. Gregory argues that black people in America are "reacting to your racism." After Dick Gregory's speech, many alumni were irate and sent letters to President Modlin articulating their concerns that he was allowed to speak on campus. Some alumni even ceased their donations, but President Modlin affirmed the principle of free speech as essential to the University. In 1973, Dick Gregory returned to campus to speak in another lecture series.

Dickerson, Jim. "Attacks 'White Inconsistencies': Dick Gregory Labels Youth Audience 'The New American Nigger, Indian'." The University of Richmond Collegian LVIII, no. 12, (December 11, 1970): 1. https://collegian.richmond.edu/?a=d&d=COL19701211.2.4&srpos=16&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-

The Collegian, University of Richmond

1970-12-11

English

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Richmond (Va.)